With one google search on the internet, we can answer any question that we have. A whole host of information is out there, you can get the answer from multiple sources within a short amount of time. The invention of the internet dramatically shifted the way that us humans spread information and come to understand our world. This leads to more inner growth because of an expansion of perspectives, and because of perceived support from online communities.
A Brief History of Information Spread Before the Internet
The spread of knowledge before the internet was more limited, slower, and not as expansive. Before the internet, people first shared information, of course, by word of mouth. This type of knowledge spread is limited to what the people in our grounded communities know. This isn’t to say that before the internet we only knew what our community knew; we had access to books. Books allowed for new information from different areas of the world. However, the means of consuming information was slower.
Additionally, knowledge acquisition itself may have been less common before the internet. This is because if you had a question, if you wanted to learn about something, you had to go to a library, find the book, then scan through the book for your answer or read the whole thing. Because of this lengthy process, many people may not have bothered with answering their question at all. They may not have had close access to a library, may not have had the time or the willpower.
Knowledge may have spread less in the past because people shared their perspectives less often. The internet changed this by letting anyone easily publish their ideas on any topic. Online sharing also avoids direct, in-person feedback, which can reduce fear of negative reactions to ideas that are new, challenging, or sensitive. As a result, people who might stay silent face-to-face may feel more comfortable sharing online.
In essence, the internet allows us to learn from a wider range of creators and at a quicker rate, and its give creators a space to share with the option of controlling the feedback.
Positives of the Internet
Encounter New Perspectives
The internet knows no boundaries, like our grounded realities sometimes do, leading to an open array of perspectives that we would not otherwise encounter. Our society often limits who we interact with based on class and race. Neighborhoods are often economically divided, we usually engage in the same hobbies as people that similar to our class. In the virtual space, we do not have these boundaries. This leads to a spread of information that breaks through these on-the-ground barriers. This allows us to understand perspectives from people that we are separated from, and to break free from societal norms and create change.
Learning New Things Without the Intention of Doing So
Another positive aspect of the internet is that you can learn new things without the intention learning it. Before the internet, when you relied on books, you had to have something in mind to explore, then check out the book and read it. However, with the internet, you can learn about topics that you didn’t even know existed. You can find help that you didn’t even know that you needed. This is mainly possible through the feeds and explore pages that we have on our social media apps.
The internet allows us to encounter new perspectives and learn new things without the intention of doing so. It also allows us to connect to more people than ever, boosting our social support and mental health, and encouraging us to take positive risks.
Online Communities Boost our Perceived Support
Social support helps boost our mental health. The forms of social support that are available on social media include informational support – advice giving, step by step instructions and describing your lived experience to share perspective – and a sense of belonging, namely through online communities (Scott, 2025).
Perceived social support, that is, the idea that we have social support available if we need it, is said to improve mental health. One study found that perceived social support was significantly correlated with better mental health: “Studies found that perceived social support that is measured globally is related to lower symptoms of anxiety and depression across the lifespan,” and “was found to enhance adults’ mental health, including greater psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and happiness,” (H. H. Wang et al., 2003, as cited by Yeo et al., 2025).
The perception of social support through the internet can support the willingness to take risks, helping people to grow.
Perceived Support Helps with Uncertainty
This psychological perception that we have support out there on the internet should we need it, for any issue that arises, boosts our ability to cope with uncertainty and to take positive risks. In our decision making process, the perception that online communities exist gives us a bit of a “safety net.” It is this perception that matters, not necessarily the actual support out there. If we know we will be supported in the future, we will feel better about taking that positive risk, knowing that support will be out there for what problem we face.
Not only do we have more access to information to expand perspectives for growth, we have more social support and thus a more willingness to take on positive risks.
Using the Internet for Change
The internet is a powerful human invention. We now need to think bigger about how to solve the most complex societal problems; the answers are quite literally at our fingertips.
References
Elizabeth Scott, P. (2025, November 21). What are the best types of social support?. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-social-support-3144960#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways,to%20deal%20with%20your%20problem.
GeckHong , Y., Lansford, J. E., & Rudolph, K. D. (2025). How Does Perceived Social Support Relate to Human Thriving? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses. APA. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000363.pdf
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