> rather it has just uncovered what was already there
Exactly! One of the interesting things that's happened is group discussions that would've taken place in private now often happen in very public places. Imagine, for instance, who would have access to the equivalent of Hacker News 100 years ago. Now, for better or worse, the community's discussions are out there and available for analysis not only by its own members but also interested outsiders.
I kind of hate Twitter for this. For all the good it has done, it's made the more unsavory viewpoints a little too accessible and that allows people to construct whole narratives based on 5 tweets. Whereas those people's voices should be drowned out and lost in time, clickbait groups amplify them to spread outrage and make money.
Exactly! One of the interesting things that's happened is group discussions that would've taken place in private now often happen in very public places. Imagine, for instance, who would have access to the equivalent of Hacker News 100 years ago. Now, for better or worse, the community's discussions are out there and available for analysis not only by its own members but also interested outsiders.