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Is the internet a miraculous tool for human connection, or a dystopian engine of distraction? Recently, economist Tyler Cowen published a contrarian piece in the Free Press titled "Why I often choose my phone instead of flesh and blood." His argument challenges the standard techno-criticism: he suggests that when people are hunched over their phones in airports, they aren't necessarily zombie-scrolling; they might be connecting with the specific people who make their lives richer.
As someone who has spent years criticizing the excesses of social media and smartphones, you might expect me to reject Cowen’s premise entirely. Surprisingly, I don't. While Cowen identifies a profound benefit of the digital world, he misses a crucial distinction in how the modern internet actually functions. By understanding where Cowen is right—and where the current tech landscape fails us—we can unlock a powerful new framework for digital life: the distinction between the algorithmic and the non-algorithmic internet.
Key Takeaways
- The internet's original promise was connection: It allows us to find niche communities and "perfect people" that we wouldn't encounter in our physical geography.
- Engagement has replaced connection: Modern platforms prioritize algorithmic curation to maximize time-on-site rather than facilitating genuine human interaction.
- The solution is the "Non-Algorithmic Internet": You can reject addictive feeds while keeping tools like newsletters, podcasts, and forums that support deep interests.
- Digital tribes aren't enough: While online connections satisfy intellectual curiosity, the human brain still requires the friction and presence of local, flesh-and-blood community.
The Case for Finding Your "Perfect People"
Tyler Cowen’s defense of the internet rests on a concept that defined the early web: the ability to transcend physical limitations to find your tribe. In his article, Cowen argues that admonishments against screen time often miss the profoundly human interactions taking place behind the glass.
"I view many of these online time investments as a determined attempt to be in touch with the people we want to be in touch with, to meet the people we truly want to meet, and to befriend and sometimes to marry them... I believe that by spending time online, I will meet and befriend a collection of individuals around the world who are pretty much exactly the people I want to be in touch with."
This is a valid and powerful point. Historically, creative or independent thinkers flocked to cities. These urban centers were often crowded, expensive, and dirty, but they offered a higher statistical probability of finding people who shared your idiosyncratic sensibilities. The internet democratized this "city effect," allowing anyone, anywhere, to connect with their specific intellectual peers without friction.
Cowen calls this finding the "perfect people for me." If the internet is used solely for this purpose—to maintain high-bandwidth communication with people you genuinely admire or love—it acts as a miraculous liberating force.
The Trap of the Algorithmic Internet
Where Cowen’s argument falters is in assuming that connection is the default behavior of the modern internet user. The reality is that the platforms dominating our screen time have shifted away from facilitating connection and toward manufacturing engagement.
We are witnessing the dominance of the algorithmic internet. Platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram Reels are no longer primarily about seeing what your friends are doing. They are massive cybernetic systems designed to turn users into what Nicholas Negroponte might call "digital sharecroppers." These platforms aggregate millions of pieces of content and use sophisticated algorithms to determine exactly what will capture your attention in the moment.
The experience of the person scrolling in the airport is rarely one of deep connection with a peer. More often, it is better analogized to a slot machine in Las Vegas. They are interacting with a curated feed designed to deliver short-term dopamine hits, not human intimacy. When an algorithm selects your reality, you are not exploring a global village; you are zoning out in a walled garden built for advertisers.
Embracing the Non-Algorithmic Internet
Understanding the difference between connecting with people and feeding an algorithm empowers us to make better choices. We do not have to choose between being a Luddite or a TikTok addict. We can opt for a third way: the non-algorithmic internet.
This approach involves using digital tools that do not rely on black-box curation to determine what you see. Examples of this healthier digital diet include:
- Podcasts: You choose the host and the topic, engaging deeply with long-form ideas.
- Newsletters and Blogs: Direct communication from writers you trust, delivered to your inbox without an intermediary sorting mechanism.
- Niche Forums: Communities like specific Discord servers or hobbyist message boards (like the Washington Nationals forum I frequent) where the timeline is chronological and the community is self-moderated.
- Direct Messaging: Group chats, texts, and emails with people you actually know.
The non-algorithmic internet is a net positive. It allows you to learn from experts, maintain relationships across distances, and explore niche interests without the addictive, anxiety-inducing baggage of the attention economy.
Balancing Digital Minds with Physical Community
While the non-algorithmic internet allows us to meet minds that match our own, it should not be the entirety of our social existence. There is a specific psychological satisfaction that comes from being physically present with others—even those who aren't your "perfect" intellectual match.
I rely on the internet to communicate with fellow writers like Oliver Burkeman or Steve Magness—people who share my specific professional and philosophical interests. However, my wife and I have also prioritized building a deep community where we live. These are neighbors and local friends who we see in flesh and blood.
Real-world interactions provide a necessary friction. They force us to navigate differences and share space with people outside our curated bubbles. Your brain recognizes physical presence as true "sociality" in a way it does not recognize text on a screen. If your social life is entirely digital, even if it is non-algorithmic, you may still find yourself haunted by a fragile sense of anxiety. We need the stability of the tribe we can see.
Conclusion
Tyler Cowen is right to say the internet is profoundly human, but only if we use it humanely. The dichotomy shouldn't be between offline and online; it should be between the active and the passive.
By rejecting the algorithmic feed and embracing the non-algorithmic internet, we can harvest the miraculous connectivity of the web—finding the mentors, peers, and ideas that help us grow—without losing our autonomy to the scroll. Combine this digital intentionality with a commitment to your local, physical community, and you have a recipe for a truly deep life.
