Is the Internet Growing or Shrinking Our Perception of Who We Can Be?

Is the Internet Growing or Shrinking Our Perception of Who We Can Be?

Leaving the liberal arts college bubble, I found myself turning to the internet to replicate the constant stream of diverse perspectives that kept me growing and thinking in my student days. While I didn’t expect to find a single group that supported my enthusiasm for tech, entrepreneurship, humanitarianism, music, art, feminism, self discovery, psychology, etc, I wasn’t prepared for the level of disdain between my circles. Tired of the negativity towards non-tech pursuits in my tech circles, I gravitated towards creative and personal development events, which exposed me to an ethos of negativity towards traditional employment and STEM jobs.

While I expected the demographic still seeking to find themselves past 22 to be dominated by artsy types, the number of former techies was a bit of a shock. Nice as it was to find people who could relate to the intersection of my worlds, repeatedly hearing the narrative that leaving STEM and corporate America is the ticket to holistic fulfillment made a fulfilling career in tech seem like an elusive destination with no inbound flights. I questioned whether I could ever be content straddling two realms that disapproved of each other, if I’d ever find a family where I’m not the black sheep. Through college, I’d prided myself on being an independent thinker, but as life at the bottom of the corporate ladder left me constantly doubting myself, I desperately wanted a dream someone would affirm was possible.

My recent experiences have shown me that despite the freedom they promise, online arenas are rarely free of the conformity requested in their offline counterparts. More often, the virtual world encourages us to find cults where we fit in rather than get comfortable with diversity. As mainstream rhetoric grows more politically correct, subcultures have a long way to go in terms of letting the other into their backyards, retreating to segregated echo chambers as they approach.

Still, for those seeking to promote inclusivity, the internet broadens their sphere of influence to the whole (connected) world. Thanks to the internet, I finally found my tribe in groups founded by my fellow explorers of disparate realms, albeit after months of searching and almost giving up. After years of defining myself as an outsider, these communities have shown the value of my unique perspectives in building communities that include and empower. By bypassing logistical, financial, and social barriers, the internet makes it easy for us all to contribute experiments to the R&D project of shaping the future.

Call to action: What can you do to create or evolve a community?