I rarely watch live TV. Most of what I watch is recorded, or catch-up. I can then watch what I want when I want, depending on my mood at the time, rather than what is scheduled at that time. This is undoubtedly an improvement, and I chafe when watching live TV. However, the downside I have come to find with this method of viewing is that you tend to get locked into a pattern of viewing, and don't realise that there are other things that you might enjoy in the same way as watching live TV, when you can stumble across something by accident. The players will recommend things for you to watch, based on what you have watched before. Just like the news feeds that tailor themselves to your preferences, your range is subtly limited.
I do worry that we are increasingly living in our own little bubbles. Technology that has undoubtedly expanded our horizons, is now subtly limiting them. We watch only the programs that we already know we like, we watch news that is tailored to our point of view, we order food delivered to our door that we already know we like, and so on. I think this is one of the reasons for the increasing polarisation and radicalisation - if you aren't exposed to other points of view then you won't understand them, and if you don't understand why someone has a different opinion, you are far less likely to be tolerant of them. Eventually you get to the situation where someone who holds the opposite opinion is regarded as being unreasonable, or worse.
Brexit is the epitome of this. We have become divided into two camps, each seemingly incapable of understanding the other, or even wanting to understand the other, and increasingly intolerant of each other. I have come to despair of intelligent people who think the same way as I do, yet are unable to accept any questioning of some of their more outlandish statements. If you dare to question anything they say, then you are treated as a "traitor to the cause".
Brexit is by no means the only example. It is becoming increasingly common for students to ban speakers who hold "unacceptable" views from debates, for example.
It is unhealthy for us as individuals to behave as ostriches, living in our own little bubbles. We need to be challenged, to experience things outside our comfort zones.
