In a digital world increasingly dominated by algorithms and artificial intelligence, one beloved website continues to thrive by doing things the old-fashioned way. Craigslist, the classifieds site that's been connecting people since the late 1990s, still attracts an impressive 105 million monthly users who appreciate its straightforward, community-focused approach.

Writer and comedian Megan Koester exemplifies the deep connections people form with the platform. Over 15 years, she's landed her first writing job through Craigslist, found a rent-controlled apartment she still calls home, purchased land in the Mojave Desert, and furnished an entire dwelling with treasures from the site's free section. Even the laminate flooring came from Craigslist, donated by a production company looking to pass it along to someone who needed it.

What makes Craigslist special in 2024 is precisely what some might consider its weakness. The site doesn't track user behavior, doesn't employ algorithms to predict what you want to see, and doesn't offer public profiles or rating systems. There are no likes, shares, or followers to chase. Instead, it offers something increasingly rare online: genuine anonymity and the freedom to connect without performing for an audience.

Actor and comedian Kat Toledo has been using Craigslist since the 2000s and believes the platform is experiencing a renaissance. She regularly uses it to find cohosts for her Los Angeles stand-up show, Besitos, and discovered her current full-time job as an assistant to a forensic psychologist through the site. She's been happily employed there for nearly two years, proving that Craigslist can lead to stable, meaningful opportunities.

Toledo loves what she calls the site's "random factor," the way it connects her with people from all walks of life she might never otherwise meet. Her cohost searches have brought her born-again Christians performing religious awakenings, poets insisting on doing her makeup, and countless other unique individuals with fascinating stories to share.

The Ripple Effect: Jessa Lingel, an associate professor of communication at the University of Pennsylvania, points out that Craigslist proves you can run a profitable online business while treating users with respect. The company generates revenue through modest listing fees but spends nothing on advertising or marketing. Despite reports of declining revenue in recent years, it remains enormously profitable while offering users autonomy and privacy.

The platform has even become an unexpected resource for creative projects, helping cast experimental shows like HBO's The Rehearsal and Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty. These productions recognize that Craigslist attracts authentic, unpolished individuals rather than people seeking internet fame.

What Craigslist represents is a vision of what the internet can be: a tool that genuinely serves communities without extracting every possible data point or attention second from its users. As Toledo puts it, when something is structured simply and truly serves the community without asking for much, that's what survives.

In an era of digital exhaustion, where every platform seems designed to maximize engagement and monetize attention, Craigslist's continued success offers hope. It proves that 105 million people still value authentic human connection over algorithmic curation, community over clout, and simplicity over surveillance.