People will see how the internet should be used, as a method of connection, cooperation, and empathy. Historically, there has been a big selection bias with int

People will see how the internet should be used, as a method of connection, cooperation, and empathy. Historically, there has been a big selection bias with internet contributors. A small % of people create most of the content. In the first few years of the internet, this was fine. However, beginning in the early 2000’s, a critical mass of people started using the internet. This caught the attention of “extremists” of any kind (people with strong motivations and views). Suddenly, they can blast their message to billions of people around the world every day, for better or worse. This made the internet seem like an irreversibly toxic place. It polarized people. With Coronavirus, we know that the internet doesn’t have to stay that way. We shouldn’t cynically limit the internet. We should pursue the seemingly quaint, democratic ideals of early internet pioneers. There is a lot to be gained. It is now clear how arbitrary it is to think that internet connections aren’t “real.” They’re literally all we have right now. Seeing that in practice on a greater scale than ever before will pay dividends. I foresee a new wave of investment in internet companies (online education, virtual collaboration, etc...) after all this is said and done. A lot of innovation and economic surplus will be generated.