The immediate counterargument one might anticipate is that these solutions are too complex or demanding for the average Internet user. But this complexity is not a bug; it's a feature. It's precisely this level of granularity that allows for a highly customized experience. Complexity serves as a sort of filter, gating off this improved digital space to those who are committed to bettering their own informational environment. That commitment serves as a form of protection against the very problems we are discussing.
Consider curated ad-blocking lists, a concept most Internet users are familiar with. These lists are maintained by communities of advanced users and are often composed of both specific domain names and regular expression (regex) sets designed to identify the structure of ad-related content. The average user may not understand the intricacies of these lists, but they don't need to; they simply reap the benefits by subscribing to them. These lists effectively restore control to the user, allowing them to dictate the terms of their own browsing experience, rather than surrendering that control to advertising networks.
Similarly, human filters for user-side customization can function based on the same principles. There would be no obligation for every user to understand the underlying mechanics, nor engage in their own personal curation. Just as one doesn't need to be a mechanic to drive a car, one doesn't need to be a software engineer to navigate a cleaner, less manipulative Internet. Users can opt into sets of filters curated by others—be they organizations committed to unbiased information dissemination or communities centered around specific interests. One might say that this is precisely what platforms do, but the difference is precisely that the user only opts-in to blacklists, not their content.
What's critical to understand is that these solutions create a tiered Internet experience. For those unwilling or unable to navigate the complexities, the current platforms of the Internet would still exist. For those that would take the time to engage with these advanced tools, a more pure, undiluted form of information awaits. It's essentially a return to an expertise-driven model, a digital meritocracy where the depth of your experience is commensurate with your level of engagement and understanding. And that's not elitism; that's the nobility (and noblesse oblige) of the technical caste.