LogFAQs > #973689325

The internet is definitely accelerating societal decline, but it is and would be occurring even without it right now.

Long story short societies pull together and pull apart in long cycles. Either a society is excited to be together and is on the upswing (usually because of some sort of shared religion, shared success, or - most typically - to confront a threat everyone is scared of) or it is full of people who are getting tired of each other, no longer can think of a reason they need each other, and is pulling apart. The word is decadent, and that's where Western societies are at right now.

The US and 'the West' knew what it stood for during WW1 and WW2: (relative) free individuality/religion, anti-authoritarianism, and if nothing else not being murderous. That's a side that it feels good to be on. Was the West perfect? No, of course not, but it sure looked better than being on any other team, and that felt good (for most people) in those countries.

But nobody remembers that anymore, there is no threat that's TRULY scaring us, and we're now finding fault with those we previously were happy to join up with. The internet didn't cause that (it had started by the 90s) but it certainly accelerated it. It is clear that something significant (and not good) is going to have to happen to reverse the trend.