You can literally be whatever you want when you grow up!

The internet exposes us to thousands of communities that previous generations would never have encountered. It's like a buffet of hobbies we can take up at any time. I remember feeling this way during my undergraduate degree... wanting to feel more interesting beyond just my interests, with tangible products of those interests. I dove into so many rabbit holes and pulled some things that had longevity and others that I begun that just didn't resonate and stick around with me.

YouTube, Reddit, Pinterest, TikTok, blogs, and Discord servers don't just teach hobbies—they actively introduce new ones. Since my Web 2.0 started 6 weeks ago, I've been making bread thanks to my mother-in-law and several subreddits I've joined. Predominantly the former, because I was actively participating with a teacher in a kitchen space. The latter- those networked instruction materials- require me to be motivated and follow through with the guidance they provide at my own pace, asynchronously on top of other obligations.

This distinction has made me reflect on the difference between discovering a hobby and actually adopting one. Networked knowledge activities are incredibly effective at introducing new interests and not 'gatekeeping' them. The online resources broaden entry. Within a few minutes, I can find beginner guides, troubleshooting advice, recipes, videos, and communities dedicated to almost any topic imaginable. It was almost overwhelming when I first began in the music realm. I was like, I want to make music, but do I produce it, play the piano, stick with guitar, try a drum pad on an electronic setup, etc.? Like I mentioned earlier, with some hobbies in my college career, access to knowledge does not necessarily translate to participation. In many cases, these networks create a growing list of hobbies I could pursue rather than hobbies I actively practice.

At the same time, I don't view this as a negative consequence of networked learning. I initially thought the overabundance of options led me to start and not finish a lot of things, but I think that's better than not being exposed at all. Instead, it demonstrates the remarkable reach of Web 2.0 environments. The same systems that introduced me to bread making have also exposed me to gardening techniques, wine education, instructional design communities, and countless other interests that would have been much harder to encounter a generation ago. The challenge is no longer finding opportunities to learn; it is deciding which opportunities deserve our limited time and attention... and considering which ones have longevity and will sustain our interest.

Comments

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