September 9, 2026
In prior writing, I’ve spent quite a bit of time attacking social media. Short-form content and the like seem particularly bad for people in ways which prior forms have not achieved, in the sense that the consumption of our attention and interstitial time is new. Not to mention that it often operates as ersatz social interaction. These critiques remain true, if not more so with lower-order media now consuming our time generated by AI. However, I would like to present a few areas in which the internet and social media have been good.
We’ve all seen the toaster-fucking meme. And though there is some element of mimesis to our desires, to deny that many traits are inborn is foolish. Kept in limited areas (both geographically & socially), people have not had the freedom to explore the range of what they’re interested in with others for most of history. Such interest groups, if they were to exist at all, were only possible in large cities due to the size and density of their populations.
As a harmless example, foamers (those who take a rabid interest in trains). I am not one, but have an appreciation for them, as the engineering involved in the rail network - both supply & mechanical - is astounding. If one were a rabid fan of trains in the 1990s, they would build model trains at home, read about them, and perhaps source timetables from Union or so on. With Usenet groups, those with this affinity could find each other & discuss this, sharing more niche info such that both parties’ lives were enriched. And it so happens that the type of mind into trains often shares other traits, making them more likely to become fast friends. This is good insofar as common spirits for much of history may have passed each other by.
Social media magnifies this effect. Those with similar personalities may find each other at scale. In the best case, these shared interests evolve into real-life interaction - see Office Hours or Vibecamp. Finding similar souls with ease is a blessing. Montaigne never found such a like soul as his dear friend. No one is replaceable but we may be so lucky as to find more than one.
It is inevitable that someone reply with the toaster-fucking argument; that selection on similarity should not always be encouraged and I do agree for harmful traits. See eating disorder forums for some of the worst examples. Furthermore, algorithms may distort selection and arbitrarily pick desired traits! However, Discord and the like let people avoid these latter issues such that true selection on personality can take place. As for the gathering of negative traits, there is only so much to do as we ought to let individuals regulate their own behavior.
There is oftentimes a negative reaction to meeting people from the internet. Safety is important, but the friends I’ve made are irreplaceable. I’ve slept at others’ houses, had them sleep at mine, camped, gone on trips, worked, loved, and found true recognition in others via the internet as in the rest of my life. Everyone deserves this gift.