Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#1

Post by unknownsky » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:20 PM UTC

In the 90's, a number of teenagers made Geocities sites, which awakened their interest in web development and taught them some basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Many of these teens went on to become web developers.

Later, many teenagers learned these skills as they customized their LiveJournal or MySpace.

Later still, many teenagers learned these skills customizing their Tumblr.

Does Gen Z have anything like this, that is creating a pipeline to web development? I know Tumblr and LiveJournal still exist, but they don't seem to be popular with Gen Z at all.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#2

Post by f0e4c2f7 » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:29 PM UTC

https://replit.com/

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#3

Post by lynndotpy » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:34 PM UTC

f0e4c2f7 wrote: post #2

https://replit.com/

I think OP more means social media, or other sites where html/css/js are directly useful on the platform.

The closest thing I can think of are games with scripting languages in their creative modes. (Like Minecraft, Overwatch, etc.)

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#4

Post by sumy23 » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:35 PM UTC

https://glitch.com/ is kind of like this. Back in the 90s, however, things were a lot more decentralized. Now people make something in Minecraft or make a video for TikTok when they want to have a little creative expression. Creativity has been co-opted by corps.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#5

Post by throwaway290 » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:36 PM UTC

https://itch.io

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#6

Post by gerikson » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:36 PM UTC

Check out https://neocities.org/

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#7

Post by polytely » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:37 PM UTC

https://glitch.com/ seems sort of like that, the branding seems very genz to me, but who knows about actual demographics.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#8

Post by chunk_waffle » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:38 PM UTC

https://neocities.org/ sounds like it might be what you're looking for

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#9

Post by hkt » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:40 PM UTC

chunk_waffle wrote: post #8

https://neocities.org/ sounds like it might be what you're looking for

Is it popular with zoomers? I thought it was more of a millennial nostalgia thing personally.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a site popular with Gen Z where users can write HTML and CSS?

#10

Post by INTPenis » Wed, Jun 08, 2022, 2:40 PM UTC

Another fun but short trick you can use is to show them how to edit html of websites.

I showed my SO's daughter this and have never seen her so engaged in HTML. I didn't expect anything to come out of it, the goal was just to prank people. But it might be all it takes to push a young person over the edge and get them on the path to more learning.