Probably one of the most-discussed things on the internet is the internet itself. Much of this is negative, warning us of the dystopia being brought on by our smartphones and the unholy combination of capitalism and unrestrained mass media run by bots.
I have no doubt that these concerns are valid. Reading these sorts of pieces has made me rethink my relationship with my phone and social media; I even wrote a similar, though admittedly nowhere near as alarmist, article myself (shameless self-citation is the name of the game kids).
But I think we also oftentimes forget to consider the positive sides of the internet. Most of us know these things are there; after all it's why we use it. We simply don't take the chance to pause and appreciate how much they contribute to our lives.
Take, for example, the way it allows us to connect with one another. I inhabit several different communities, many of which are widely separated geographically. Prior to the internet, I would've had to use physical letters and phone calls to stay in touch with my friends, which can get pretty expensive. But with social media, I can easily stay in touch with friends around the world. What's particularly cool about that is that I can see general updates from my friends and acquaintances without them necessarily needing to tell me individually, thus allowing me to see what's happening from a wider circle of people than I otherwise could.
There's also the vast amount of information we have at our fingertips. Although we certainly need to be cautious about the veracity of what we read, watch, and listen to (as we always have), there's a vast amount of quality information out there too. You can even read basically the entirety of the Church Fathers online!
Think as well about the cultural exposure we have access to. The average person today has almost certainly heard more music than someone living 100 years ago. From services like Spotify to internet radio streaming, you can hear songs and musicians from every country, style, and era. I can watch news from Canada, Senegal, Switzerland, or any other number of countries with ease. I can read a vast collection of world literature with nothing more than a device that connects me to the web. Think about that!
My point is this: the internet has its faults and dangers. We certainly do need to be aware of how we're using it. But it's also a wonderful gift to be taken advantage of and used to promote human flourishing. So get out there and start learning!
