As social media and now AI dramatically alter how we consume and create information and relate to each other, worries are mounting.

What’s notable is that we’ve been here before. Despite similar handwringing and worries, the disruptive innovations in media have ultimately ruled the day—even after accounting for technology’s uneven progress as the latest Nobel Prize winner in economics Joel Mokyr has argued—and we adapted.

Were there losses? Sure. Were some of the losses overstated? Yup. Were there also gains? Undoubtedly.