I think the question maybe is why users in social media spaces can't .... be more creative?
I used to use Geocities and yeah the internet and HTML were sort of synonymous. As users my friends and I all had pages we'd do things on and show each other.
I suspect the issue is that long term that doesn't bring in users who DO NOT want to do that and thus your user base is limited, and once you make a place that does appeal to the folks who don't want to dip their toes in code.... you just stick everyone there.
...and no, it all wasn't able to be saved - but a massive amount was managed to be preserved (it used to be available as a torrent - assuming it is still being seeded, you might be able to download a copy if you really want it - but it ain't small).
I think the answer is sturgeon's law essentially. Even by the standards of social media freeform customization degrades consistency. Most people aren't good at it or interested in learning it for its own sake.
Essentially with mass adoption it got increasingly lowest common denominator.
Geocities really wasn't "social media", though. The closest thing at the time would have been PHPBB forums or the like, and customization with those tended to be limited.
I think there just isn't much of a desire among most people to be "creative" with their layouts. Most people use social media like an appliance, they care about the networking and communication and are satisfied as long as that works.
It certainly isn't social media as we describe it now.
It is though a good example of "fun and weird" and a little sad it was left out as social media grew. I get why, but still feels like that character missing is a loss of some kind.
I don't doubt it, but as it was a given user's space that was bad as far as navigation or such ... so what? Kinda like the dumpy diner people go to because it is cheap and has that atmosphere they're looking for. Maybe the table wiggles and it's not a great spot, but that's what it is.
If you're talking about security issues, I get that, valid concern. I've got no good answer for it.
I do think there is a loss, that there isn't that personality.
I used to use Geocities and yeah the internet and HTML were sort of synonymous. As users my friends and I all had pages we'd do things on and show each other.
I suspect the issue is that long term that doesn't bring in users who DO NOT want to do that and thus your user base is limited, and once you make a place that does appeal to the folks who don't want to dip their toes in code.... you just stick everyone there.