Where new sites have been landing this week

The internet used to feel like a sandbox, but lately it feels more like a courthouse with a very active pulpit. Looking at the latest site landings, it is clear that everyone is suddenly terrified of being sued or spiritually unfulfilled. We are seeing a massive surge in legal portals that suggests a collective tightening of the belt.

There were 46 new legal sites this week. Compare that to the measly 3 that cropped up the week before. That is not just growth; it is a stampede of fine print and billable hours. People are building digital fences around their assets as fast as the servers can spin them up.

News remains the steady, grinding machine of the web. It climbed from 30 sites last week to 41 this week. Most of it is likely noise, or at least the kind of hyper-local reporting that reads like a police scanner. We are addicted to the play-by-play of our own decline.

Events saw a jump from 4 to 16 new sites, which is a rare sign of life in the physical world. Perhaps people are finally bored of their screens. Or maybe they just need a place to gather and discuss the legal papers they just filed.

Religion and spirituality made a sudden appearance after a week of total silence. We went from 0 sites to 8 in seven days. It is the classic arc of human panic. First you get news of a problem, then you hire a lawyer, and when that fails, you start looking toward the heavens for a better deal.

The data shows a world that is defensive and distracted. We are litigating more and praying more, which usually happens right before things get really interesting. If you want to see the specific spots where these new neighbors are setting up shop, head over to /new and look for yourself.