All three of the above labels I would apply to myself in some fashion or another. One of the great things that the internet has brought has been the ability to gather disparate communities together under larger banners, or bring people together who might have otherwise never been able to find each other, assuming that they were alone. Digital Communication has brought about a way for people to publicly associate and locate one another, while privately conversing with them about whatever niche interests they share.

The power of digital connection cannot be overstated. Already, staid industries are being overturned with social networking and the power of the group. Niche projects that would otherwise never exist outside of the minds of their creators are now being brought forth and shared with the world thanks to the power of crowdfunding. Individuals who in the past would have been alone and isolated in the world are forming bonds that are closer and more meaningful than with many of the people physically near them.

I find that I’m more connected, not less, when I use the internet. I can interact with people who share my interests but not necessarily my social circles or physical location. I am more free to share my thoughts in an accepting environment, and shape my interactions around the people that matter most to me. The dangers of echo chambering and filter bubbles exist, but if I’m cognizant of it I can at least save my “real world” interactions for a more open, public existence.

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