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Rowan Sanan (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I think it’s fascinating how much and how quickly the world has changed in the relatively short time I’ve lived in it. I’m 19, and yet I’ve lived through so many historical events that I feel much older than I should! I’ve watched as all the people and places around me have shifted and changed, some things from better to worse—or vice versa, of course. I think the most notable thing has been the internet and media in general, and how we as a society are able to see so much more than we used to at all times. 

The internet and social media are multifaceted. On one hand, I’ve seen its unifying nature in so many ways. Long-lost friends reunited by a Facebook post. An Instagram story garnering donations for a family halfway across the world. Communities of people bonding over fandoms and sharing what they love—and hate—through places like Tumblr or Reddit. It’s an incredible place full of information, entertainment and friendly folks who just want to help each other out. 

On the other hand, I’ve seen the internet and social media slowly but surely shift into something much more sinister. Instagram and TikTok algorithms have become designed to inflict people with what are essentially content addictions. Children and teens are being exposed to inappropriate content far before they’re ready to see it, changing how they develop and interact with their friends and families. Places and companies find ways to silence their people and workers without fail.

Now that media is so heavily connected to the world, it is so important that we are careful with how we address and use it. It’s terrifying how quickly something so incredible and innovative can become something so dangerous. It is only made worse by the fact that, since COVID, more people are reliant on their devices than ever. It’s easy to reach millions of people with a funny meme or an inspirational message, but it is just as easy to spread hate and vitriol. 

Speaking of, another thing I have seen change with the world around me is, in general, how people interact. Since media has become so prevalent, it seems like people my age and younger simply don’t know how to interact with each other. Friendships start to blossom much faster through online spheres than in real life, which I find is especially true in the university setting—nobody wants to chat after class, so they just exchange social media handles and leave it at that. Joining clubs can work, but when everyone in the club is already in their own clique, how is anyone supposed to integrate? Honestly, that very well could be a me problem, but it still speaks volumes. Finding a romantic relationship is even harder—dating apps are like a crutch that nobody wants to use, but they have to because meeting anyone organically is a nightmare. 

Interactions outside in public have also changed. When I was a child, I’d be used to walking down the street and waving at everyone I came across. I’d receive a “hi,” a “hello” or even a “have a good one.” Now, I find myself worried to even give strangers a smile in fear that they’ll give me a weird look or become intimidated/concerned. People don’t even honour lineups to board a bus as much as they used to, nor do they understand that people with invisible disabilities do indeed need the priority seating. And, with the emergence and rise of self-checkouts and automated ordering systems, it feels like the entirety of society is actively trying to avoid each other. While I’ll admit that some of the changes have been due to COVID fears, I’m not sure how healthy it is for us as a society. 

Now, that’s not to say that all the changes I’ve seen have been completely negative. It wouldn’t be fair of me to list all these negatives and not share some of the positives! Just like I mentioned before, social media can be dangerous, but it can also be incredibly helpful. I find that I learn so much from the internet, especially when it comes to world events, politics or activism. I follow so many fascinating people who do really impressive and inspiring things, simply because they want to. It has taught me so much more about myself and has given me resources to further my career and education. Being able to reach so many people is a blessing too—I’ve seen many people change their minds on political and societal issues. 

I also think there are some positives to how we as people interact now. A lot of people are actually more blunt, which doesn’t always seem like a good thing, but in this case, it is. People often won’t stand for mistreatment and will be vocal and fierce in their opposition of what they believe is wrong.

It is incredible how these things are so interconnected in every way. I believe that the world will continue to grow and change, and we will grow and change with it. Whether these changes will be positive or negative remains to be seen, but it’s only natural for the change to occur in the first place. 

After all, if humanity was stagnant and never-changing, would we really get anywhere at all?

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Rowan is a university student who loves to write books and poetry, read all kinds of books and spend time with his family and pets.