# Usenet update


Some big news regarding Usenet[1]:

>  Starting on February 22, 2024, you can no longer use Google
>  Groups (at groups.google.com) to post content to Usenet groups,
>  subscribe to Usenet groups, or view new Usenet content. You can
>  continue to view and search for historical Usenet content posted
>  before February 22, 2024, on Google Groups.


In my view googles groups integration with Usenet practically
destroyed it. As they do with most things, they assimilate and
destroy wholesome technologies from within.


## What's so good about Usenet?

There are several good reasons to make efforts to revive Usenet:  

* It is the original decentralised, federated forum.  

* It uses a simple protocol designed to work over low bandwidth and
  impermanent communications links, like dial-up.  

* News reading clients are ubiquitous and part of many email clients,
  even if you don't realize it. 

* The small technical barrier to entry keeps undesirables away, or
  at least that's how it should play out once google ceases
  to make it easy for web users to access Usenet.  

* Forums on websites come and go with the fortunes and interests of
  their often corporate owners. Because of the federated nature of
  Usenet, the information therein continues to live on.  

* ISPs no longer routinely provide access to Usenet.  
 

Is Eternal September[2] finally coming to an end? No longer are ISPs
routinely providing access to news servers and from February google
will stop providing access to people via the web. This should return
the sovereignty of Usenet to those who should rightfully have a claim
to it.

There has never been a better time to reclaim the wonderful resource
that is Usenet.


## How do I access Usenet?

Please read the wonderful guide[3] written by Matto.


[1](https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/18/google_ends_usenet_links/)
[2](gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Eternal%20September)
[3](gopher://box.matto.nl:70/0/usenet-getting-started-guide.txt)