The internet promised to make everything better, and it did not fail. This is especially true with making information accessible and connecting us globally. But along the way, it also transformed and ruined the things that we used to experience as humans. Here are the 8 ways the internet changed things that we once cherished.
8. News Became Click-Driven Sensationalism
In the name of more clicks, the internet has destroyed traditional journalism’s business model. Headlines were replaced with clickbait and outrage-farming rather than accuracy, just for engagement metrics. With that, context disappeared, and false information spreads faster than the truth.
7. Travel Became Performative
Travel used to be about experiencing other cultures. But in the day and age of social media, it’s about collecting content on Instagram. People visit destinations not to appreciate them but to photograph them through their phone cameras. Not that it’s a bad thing, but some people would rather spend time getting a good photo than know the story of the sight they’re seeing. And much worse, places get overrun with influencers that the place becomes commercialized.
6. Forums and Communities Became Algorithm-Driven Feeds
Google did a great job of indexing forums, as it’s a great way to look for honest reviews and information. Now, it’s dying as users spread, making it hard to find interesting information and forum posts getting downranked in favor of retail sites. Remember those days of niche communities thriving on dedicated forums? It’s where passionate people get into deep conversations about their interests. Now, we have algorithm-driven feeds that prioritize engagement over substance.
5. Music Discovery Lost Its Serendipity
Finding music used to be an adventure, where we consumed it from bands at a local show to hearing something on the radio. We also used to borrow CDs from friends and discover a gem by browsing through record stores. Now, algorithms will tell you what you should like based on what you’ve heard. Also, millions of fans are battling over their faves getting the most streams, forgetting the essence of listening to different music.
4. Mysteries and Urban Legends Disappeared
Remember when you used to wonder about something? Or that you and your friends would talk about some weird phenomenon? But now, the internet holds immediate answers where urban legends get debunked in seconds, killing the mystery. While on a positive note, it saves people and things from bad rumors, the sense of wonder has also vanished.
3. Concert Experiences Became Phone Screens
Noticeably, people are caught up capturing moments with their phones at concerts. It becomes a norm for concert-goers to record the entire show on their phones, not even taking a moment to listen to the music live and see the artist. With that, some musicians like Jack White, Bob Dylan, and Adele implemented phone bans in their concerts.
2. Dating Became Window Shopping
The internet transformed the beauty of meeting people into swiping through hundreds of profiles like you’re shopping for shoes. Dating apps actually privilege the beautiful with their appearances, getting a nod on whether they’ll meet someone to date. We have lost organic encounters and the ability to form a special connection with someone. Whether you like it or not, it ruined romance for us.
1. Spoilers Became Unavoidable
Major TV or movie moments get ruined once you see a TikTok post about it. Before the internet, you could watch an entire show from start to finish, but now that you’ve seen spoilers, the surprise gets ruined for you. Conversations on the internet will also influence your decision on whether to watch them or not. This has ruined the element of surprise for us and the magic of discovering things organically.