No Algorithms, No AI: How Craigslist 105 Million Users Redefine the Digital Era
Explore how Craigslist attracts 105 million users monthly in 2026 without AI or algorithms. A look into why the 'ungentrified' internet still matters today.
"The real freaks come out on Craigslist." In an era of hyper-personalized AI and invasive tracking, a website that looks like it's stuck in 1995 is thriving. Despite its Spartan interface, Craigslist still attracts over 105 million monthly users, standing as a defiant middle finger to modern tech norms.
The Mystery of Craigslist 105 Million Users in an AI-Driven World
According to data from similarweb, Craigslist remains the 40th most popular website in the United States. It doesn't spend a dime on marketing. It doesn't have a mobile app that tracks your location 24/7. Instead, it offers a "purity" that users in their 30s and 40s find increasingly essential.
An 'Ungentrified' Digital Sanctuary
Professor Jessa Lingel from the University of Pennsylvania describes the site as the "ungentrified" internet. While platforms like Reddit and Wikipedia have integrated AI tools and complex ad systems, Craigslist remains visually basic and functionally predictable.
Why do all these web 2.0 companies insist that the only way for them to succeed is off the back of user data? Craigslist shows you can make money while treating users with autonomy.
The leadership of Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster has been pivotal. They spent nearly a decade in court fighting off a takeover attempt by eBay in 2015, eventually buying back their shares to maintain control. Their refusal to "sell out" has preserved the site's original ethos of privacy and accessibility.
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