The 2000s were poised to be a decade of great positive changes. America was at peace, the government had a surplus and the increasingly popular Internet, with its blazing-fast dial-up speeds, revolutionized the way people communicated.

Although this decade has yet to give me the flying car I wanted, the technological changes throughout the decade say a great deal about our culture heading into the 2010s.

A major issue of the decade has been illegal file sharing. Although this issue had roots in the 1990s with Napster, it exploded in popularity in this decade. People began downloading various forms of media from the comfort of their desktop computer. The days of having to borrow, or even buy, a CD were quickly fading away.

This trend, coupled with the emergence of Apple’s iPod and other MP3 players, led to significant cultural changes. The days of massive physical releases for music nearly are gone now. Commercials for popular musicians such as Lady Gaga tout song positions on iTunes and ringtone charts more than physical sales.

What began with music downloading spread to the sale of movies, video games and even digital copies of books through the Internet.

These changes have led to a lowered amount of necessary human contact. To have the latest “it” thing, I need only go online and find it. Chances are, it’s somewhere in that so-called “series of tubes,” and someone is selling it.

The converse of these changes from physical to digital retail is the other great power of the Internet, which is the ability to divide.

This would seem to be a weird argument at first. After all, the Internet allows me to play “Halo” with Canadians, watch British TV shows and watch soccer matches in places I likely will never get to visit.

Beyond these broad examples, the Internet seemingly has brought Americans closer together. Social networking sites such as Myspace, Facebook and Twitter have broken barriers. Celebrities, professional athletes and politicians are now able to easily talk to the public without the use of news media.

Even among common folk, social networking allows people to reconnect with old flames, friends and even long-lost family members. These conveniences come at a cost.

The Internet allows us to be hyper-divided, meaning that while one might be connected to a large group with members across the globe, that person might be disconnected from their immediate surroundings. This change has translated into people being unaware of who their neighbors even are.

The more significant implications of such a change are its effects on factions. Without the Internet, it is unlikely that the Tea Party protests of the past summer would have occurred with such numbers and frequency.

The hyper-divisiveness makes me wonder if people need to recognize their immediate, physical neighbors. People easily can plug into any of a multitude of communities and feel fine.

This decade began with a presidential election that vastly divided the American people, because of the uncommon way in which it was decided. This event, coupled with technological advances, has sustained a vicious partisanship that was only briefly stopped due to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

As the dawn of a new decade approaches, we should remember to forge relationships and spend time with those who live near us. Doing so can create a stronger sense of community and give you a bigger stake in making sure your community is prosperous.

Justin Covington is a State News guest columnist and a political science junior. Reach him at coving27@msu.edu.