Netgoing

Netgoing is a term that emerged in the early days of the internet to describe the act of going offline. It was a conscious decision to disconnect from the nascent digital world, often for practical reasons such as conserving bandwidth, which was a scarce and expensive resource at the time, or to focus on real-world activities. The term humorously contrasted with "logging on" or "going online," highlighting the binary nature of internet access that defined early online experiences.

As internet access became more widespread and affordable, and the concept of being "always on" became prevalent, the necessity and commonality of "netgoing" diminished significantly. The need to actively disconnect was largely replaced by the background hum of continuous connectivity. While the act of intentionally disconnecting still exists, perhaps for digital detox purposes or to manage work-life balance, the specific term "netgoing" has largely fallen out of common usage, becoming more of a historical artifact of internet culture. It serves as a reminder of a time when the internet was a distinct space one entered and exited, rather than an ambient presence.