Escape

The must-read exploration of the birth and death of the internet, from award-winning journalist Marie Le Conte.

Journalist Marie Le Conte was born in 1991, the same year the World Wide Web was made publicly available. It was a joy until it wasn't - where did it all go wrong?

How did the internet go from a haven you hid in to escape real life to a place where real life is shaped?

Journalist Marie Le Conte was born in 1991, the same year the World Wide Web was made publicly available. She had her first blog at 12, a successful music website at 16 and, at 31, has just under 100,000 followers on Twitter. She spent her formative years on MSN, MySpace, Tumblr and forums; like many people her age, she grew up online as the internet itself was growing up. It was a joy until it wasn't - where did it all go wrong?

How did the internet go from a haven you hid in to escape real life to a place where real life is shaped? A space where you could be yourself and find like-minded people to a world sullied by bad algorithms, annoying brands and endless trolling? When did it become the place we're all trying to run away from?

Escape is a fascinating exploration of the rise and demise of the internet. It's a look back on the people and platforms that came and went before everything started collapsing. It's an analysis of the lessons being online has taught us, and a celebration of the tools it gave us to feel less alone.