The Flash Era
For a decade, Flash was the creative web. It allowed for animation, sound, and interactivity that HTML couldn't match. It gave rise to Newgrounds, Homestar Runner, and countless indie games.
The Great Petrifaction
Because Flash was a closed, proprietary standard, it relied on a browser plugin. When Adobe stopped updating it and browsers blocked it for security reasons (the "Kill Switch"), the content didn't disappear—it petrified. The .swf files remain on servers, but they are unplayable without emulation (e.g., Ruffle).