The rise of the Internet and smartphones has helped connect people, locally and globally, who likely would not have otherwise met. The quick speed of digital message delivery has also made it possible to have real-time exchanges without the lag time of physical mail delivery. It’s easier to get to know someone in a shorter period of time.

Folks who lie outside the mainstream in terms of interests and ability, now have the power to more easily find like-minded individuals and community. There are simply fewer hurdles and more options.

For example, dedicated apps and online communities have sprung up and are connecting people with so-called taboo interests in kink and polyamory. Instead of risking social punishment by outing yourself in public places in an effort to discover friends and lovers that could join your “tribe,” you can go online where such people are already gathering.

As I mentioned above, folks with disabilities are also benefiting. Unfortunately, the physical world is designed to serve the able-bodied person, and as a result social exclusion and loneliness are common experiences for diabled people.

I expect that in the future people who have long experienced social exclusion and isolation will have even more and better options to connect and find acceptance and intimacy with others.

Technological progress will continue to make digital communication even faster and easier, supporting the growth of more diverse communities and connection between people who may have been viewed by society as “blacksheep.”