The Case for Digital Autonomy: Why You Need a Website

Relying exclusively on social media for a business or creative presence is a mistake because you lack ownership and control over your platform. Independent websites ensure that all potential customers can access vital information while protecting creators from the volatile nature of tech companies. Establishing a personal site and mailing list is essential for long-term digital autonomy and reaching your audience reliably.

Key Points

• Social media platforms exclude potential clients who are not active on those specific networks or who block them to avoid distractions.
• Creators and businesses do not own their content, followers, or data on social media, leaving them vulnerable to platform changes or bans.
• Websites provide a simple, reliable way for customers to find essential information like rates and hours without algorithmic interference.
• Email lists are a vital tool for maintaining direct contact with an audience that cannot be easily taken away by tech companies.
• The shift toward centralized social media platforms undermines the original, interconnected nature of the internet.

Sentiment

The community is sympathetic to the article's ideals about digital autonomy and owning your web presence, but there is significant skepticism about its practical advice. Most commenters with real-world experience building websites for non-technical clients or running small businesses themselves pushed back on the notion that having a website is straightforward. The prevailing view is that the article preaches to the choir while underestimating the enormous knowledge gap and time constraints faced by its intended audience.

In Agreement

• Platform dependency is dangerous — businesses don't own their content or audience on social media, and can lose everything to bans or algorithmic changes
• Instagram requires an account to view content, making it a poor substitute for a publicly accessible website
• Google Maps is starting to restrict information for non-logged-in users, proving that relying on any single platform is risky
• Websites serve as fully functioning sales systems that can save businesses money by avoiding third-party platform fees for reservations and orders
• A simple website with menu, hours, location, and phone number is all most businesses need, and this should be achievable
• The open web is a public good worth defending against corporate enclosure

Opposed

• Small business owners are too time-constrained and resource-limited to learn about hosting, DNS, domains, and web maintenance — even with AI assistance
• Social media platforms like Facebook and Google Maps are free, easy to use, and already where the customers are, making them the rational choice
• The real problem isn't building websites but the entire ecosystem of prerequisite knowledge that technologists take for granted
• Squarespace and similar services are expensive relative to what small businesses need, yet the free alternatives require too much technical skill
• In much of the world, small restaurants and shops run entirely on Facebook pages and Google Maps entries without any negative business impact
• Website builders still require a level of tech savviness that exceeds what most small business owners possess