Many to Many

Timothy Chester

As a sociologist by training and technologist by trade, I’ve long been fascinated by the cultural shifts that follow big tech revolutions. While smartphones often get the blame for things like worsening mental health, the real story starts earlier. The Internet gave us instant, low-cost ways to connect—but at the expense of face-to-face community, trusted institutions, and shared narratives. That tradeoff is now reshaping everything.

Timothy Chester

Today’s Dispatch explores how the Internet, smartphones, and AI have accelerated the shift from traditional social frameworks to fragile, algorithm-driven networks of constant digital connection. As gatekeepers lost influence, trust in institutions eroded, leaving us more connected but less grounded. This shift reshapes politics and mental health, and it’s time we reckon with what we’ve built.