LET’S RETURN TO AN ERA WHEN THE INTERNET WASN’T DOMINATED BY ALGORITHMS. 

In my recent exploration to break away from the routine of typical social media platforms, I stumbled upon PI.FYI. Driven by curiosity, I decided to install the app without fully understanding its purpose. As I opened it, I was greeted by a burst of vibrant colors, which left me feeling a bit puzzled. Its interface is striking, featuring colors of bright blue, vivid red, and yellow stars hanging over unflattering profile pictures. It felt like I was transported back to a time when the internet didn’t operate at high speeds, or when apps didn’t even exist; only simple and angular websites on large computer screens. It also reminded me of the website for the 1996 animated film Space Jam, which is still alive (you should check it out).

Even before I fully understood what PI.FYI was, I attempted to familiarize myself with the platform.

Several times, the sentence ‘UH-OH… ERROR! TRY AGAIN’ popped up on my phone screen, leaving me uncertain if it was part of the app or a technical glitch. Despite my confusion, I delved into exploring the platform itself, gradually uncovering its workings, content, and possibilities. One standout aspect was the absence of intrusive advertisements. Instead, I encountered a variety of recommendations, phrases, and questions—each post offering a glimpse into someone’s thoughts and tastes.

Later, I learned that PI.FYI originated from Perfectly Imperfect, a newsletter that offers a unique insight to the tastes of various guests like Charli XCX, Lena Dunham, and Mac Demarco, as well as creatives, cool kids, and influencers residing in New York. The mind behind this initiative, Tyler Bainbridge along with his friends Alex Cushing and Serey Morm, initiated the newsletter as a response to the impersonal algorithmic suggestions we often encounter. Then, in January 2024, Bainbridge brought PI.FYI into existence—a platform where everyone can freely share what they love and discover new things from both friends and strangers, not algorithms (at least for now).

PI.FYI might bring back memories of the golden age of blogging, back in the late 1990s and early 2000s when they were called ‘weblogs’ before the term was shortened to ‘blog’. It also brings to mind platforms like Tumblr, where one could curate images and quotes—a digital journey through the diverse interests and personalities of others. However, as time passed, its allure faded with the rise of fast-growing social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, which primarily focus on visual content.

After spending a few days on PI.FYI, I began to appreciate its beauty and spontaneity, admiring the different tastes people have. While scrolling through the platform, I stumbled upon various posts ranging from unfiltered images of hotdogs with the title “HOT DOG ON A PIECE OF TOAST” to the question “WHAT IS YOUR FIRST MEMORY?” and various music, book, and movie suggestions, as well as light-hearted phrases such as “JUST BUY AN ESPRESSO MACHINE” and “USE A BOWL”—you’ll have to explore it yourself to fully understand.

(…) PI.FYI encourages freedom and enjoyment, where the little moments of the day matter, such as someone sharing the recommendation “WAKING UP WITH THE SUN.

Unlike the constantly shifting aesthetics, algorithms, and advertisements of platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where we often hesitate to express ourselves fully, PI.FYI encourages freedom and enjoyment, where the little moments of the day matter, such as someone sharing the recommendation “WAKING UP WITH THE SUN.” Most of the posts carry a positive tone, sprinkled with occasional musings, but fundamentally, it’s a place where you can be entirely yourself. On PI.FYI, there will always be someone who doesn’t find it a strange taste, or no one, just yourself.

In the coming months, PI.FYI could become more popular (hopefully also in European countries), especially among those who are tired of the algorithms on usual social media platforms. For these individuals, it offers something refreshing and straightforward—a space to express their thoughts, tastes, and observations without the distractions of mainstream platforms.

Perhaps soon, we’ll embrace the opportunity to exchange tastes and thoughts without succumbing to the sameness often found on mainstream platforms, as each post on PI.FYI offers something different.