“Ungentrified” Craigslist may be the last real place on the Internet

Megan Koester, a writer and comedian, reflects on her deep connection with Craigslist, the platform that kickstarted her writing career over 15 years ago by leading her to a job reviewing adult content. Years later, she turned to Craigslist once again to find a rent-controlled apartment, where she still resides today. Her journey with the site didn’t stop there; it also helped her discover a piece of land in the Mojave Desert, where she built a home, albeit on unpermitted land, furnished entirely with items sourced from Craigslist’s free section. "There are so many elements of my life that are intertwined with Craigslist," says Koester, 42. Her Instagram account features a collection of what she calls 'harrowing images' from Craigslist's free listings. On the day of our conversation, she proudly dons a cashmere sweater that cost her nothing but the courage to respond to an ad that lacked any photos. "I’m ride or die," she asserts. Koester represents a growing community of Craigslist enthusiasts, primarily individuals in their thirties and forties, who continue to find value in this vintage classifieds platform. For them, Craigslist remains an essential part of daily life, offering a unique space where anonymity thrives, financial exchange is not always necessary, and meaningful connections can flourish—be it for romance, straightforward transactions, or even casting calls for unconventional creative projects like HBO's 'The Rehearsal' or Amazon Freevee’s 'Jury Duty.' In stark contrast to glitzy online marketplaces like Depop or Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist doesn’t rely on algorithms to track user behavior or predict interests. It lacks public profiles, rating systems, and social interaction features such as 'likes' or 'shares.' This absence of social currency effectively discourages clout-chasing and the pursuit of virality, presenting a nostalgic vision of a more sincere Internet era.