I like to believe the internet is a great enabler when it comes to finding or accessing information, unfortunately discovery has become progressively worse for a long time now.
The internet is also a massive distraction as Sturgeon's Law applies fully, and certain participants optimize for capturing attention with low value content. It definitely holds us back, and leads to multiple adverse outcomes.
imo, engaging with the current day Internet must be done carefully as it's not all good, some days that works better than others.
I would argue it's not an either-or. The Internet enables us to share the information that's most relevant/efficient, and it makes this information so accessible that the opportunity cost for NOT accessing it is increasingly high.
Does this mean I'll never escape the influence of those decades of corporate email?