• by Masha Geller , September 11, 2002

On September 11th, 2001, the web was the best way to get in touch with loved ones. On the first anniversary of the tragedy, it became a shrine.

As one article stated with considerable admiration towards the medium, “The Internet became a globe-spanning memorial on Wednesday, with condolences, poems, reflections, artwork and photos pouring onto the World Wide Web to commemorate the first anniversary of the hijack attacks that killed more than 3,000 people in the United States.

“In every conceivable online forum, Net users paid tribute to firefighters and police officers. They prayed for the victims' families. They reflected on the prospects of world peace. They shared their memories, hopes and fears.”

According to Pew Internet & American Life Project, close to 30,000 sites dedicated to the event were created between Sept. 11 and Dec. 1, and yesterday scores of discussion boards filled with poignant reflections on the meaning of the day. To quote one Reuters reporter, the outpouring of emotion “seemed almost to give the medium a heart.”

As with all other media, the commercial aspect of the web was understandably muted. The first thing I appreciated yesterday morning was the Yahoo! homepage, which was devoid of its usually vivid colors and ads, its white background replaced with gray. Other major sites followed suit. Tastefully. Not ignoring the tragedy, but also remembering that we have to go on with our lives.

I don’t know about you, but I’m extremely proud that our medium (and our industry) handled the tragedy and the aftermath with such heartfelt humility and class.