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Aug 17, 2026 · Industry Insights

How Gopher’s 997% Traffic Surge Nearly Turned the Internet into a Text Menu

The article recounts Gopher’s explosive 997% traffic growth in 1993, the fee announcement that triggered its rapid decline, the protocol’s menu‑only design and lack of hyperlinks, and how the Web’s open, link‑rich approach ultimately eclipsed Gopher, leaving only a few legacy servers today.