"The 'Net is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it"

William Gibson’s observation about the Internet being a “waste of time” touches on both a critique and a celebration of the digital age. Framed as a paradox, his comment acknowledges that the Internet is often seen as a sinkhole of distraction, endless scrolling, aimless surfing, procrastination. However, the very act of ‘wasting time’ is not simply a failing or a vice. Instead, Gibson highlights an essential human need: to explore, to dawdle, to lose oneself in tangents, and to experience serendipity. The Internet, unlike earlier media forms, embraces the ecstatic, nonlinear possibilities of discovery.

On the Internet, structured productivity is set aside in favor of curiosity. Much of what’s valuable emerges from accidental encounters, a strange article, a niche community, an unexpected hobby. These moments don’t conform to our usual metrics of efficiency or utility, but they represent the very things that lead to creativity and connection. The boundaries between work and play blur, and the act of wasting time becomes a source of inspiration and delight rather than mere idleness.

Gibson’s insight taps into the idea that modern life can be overly instrumental, always demanding results and measurable outcomes. Yet, some of the greatest innovations and joys arise from unplanned moments. To “waste time” on the Internet is to reclaim a sense of agency over one’s own attention, to indulge in curiosity without guilt or pressure. The Internet’s richness is not in its ability to deliver information efficiently, but in its capacity to generate meandering, aimless, yet meaningful journeys.

Ultimately, the value of wasting time is about freedom, the freedom to linger, to experiment, to step outside the rigid confines of purpose-driven existence. What’s “right” about the Internet is not its ability to make us more productive, but its permission to simply wander and be human.