Craigslist, the classifieds website that time forgot, continues to thrive despite—or perhaps because of—its refusal to evolve with the modern internet. From securing housing to finding bizarre creative collaborators, the platform remains a vital resource for a dedicated community, many of whom see it as a last stand against algorithmic control and data harvesting.
A Surprisingly Resilient Platform
For users like comedian Megan Koester, Craigslist is woven into the fabric of daily life. She found her first job reviewing pornography through the site, secured rent-controlled housing, and even built a desert dwelling furnished entirely with Craigslist finds. This reliance isn’t unusual; many in their thirties and forties consider the site an essential, if somewhat anachronistic, part of their routine. Unlike polished marketplaces like Depop or Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist operates without algorithms, tracking, or social metrics. This lack of incentives for virality fosters a unique, unfiltered environment.
A Haven for Authenticity and Anonymity
The site’s appeal lies in its raw, unmoderated nature. It’s where “real freaks come out,” as Koester puts it, because the platform doesn’t encourage clout-chasing or performative authenticity. While Craigslist eliminated its “casual encounters” section in 2018 due to legal pressure, its “missed connections” remain active, preserving a sliver of the early internet’s freewheeling spirit.
This ethos has earned Craigslist the label of the “ungentrified” internet, a space where privacy and autonomy are prioritized over data monetization. Despite accusations of being outdated—a 2008 article called it “underdeveloped”—devotees argue that simplicity is its strength. Kat Toledo, an actor and comedian, uses Craigslist to hire cohosts for her stand-up show, finding a pool of performers who are “people who almost have nothing to lose…and everything to gain.”
Financial Success Without Exploitation
Despite declining revenue in recent years, Craigslist remains enormously profitable, generating income through modest ad fees for gigs, goods, and rentals. The company draws over 105 million monthly users, ranking it among the top 40 most visited websites in the U.S., all without spending on advertising.
According to communication professor Jessa Lingel, Craigslist demonstrates that a successful online business doesn’t necessarily require user data exploitation. The site’s founders, Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster, have fiercely resisted corporate takeover attempts, most notably a decade-long legal battle with eBay. Their commitment to simplicity, privacy, and accessibility ensures that Craigslist will remain a defiant outlier in the modern digital landscape.
“As long as they’re the major shareholders, that will stay that way.”
For many users, Craigslist is more than just a platform; it’s a cultural artifact, a reminder of an earlier, less manipulative internet. As Koester puts it, she’ll keep using it “until I die…or until Craig dies.”
Craigslist’s continued existence proves that a thriving online community can flourish without the trappings of modern surveillance capitalism. It remains a defiant reminder that the internet doesn’t have to be built on exploitation.
