If you’ve been following along, you know we’re dedicating this series to the ways that tech can help connect you with others. Last time we talked tech’s ability to maintain strong relationships, but what about creating new ones?

Create community. Across the planet.

As Katerina Fake explains it, the idea of creating Flickr came from a search to find others interested in her favorite author. Living in New Jersey, there weren’t many people interested in debating the works of Jorge Luis Borges. But, an online forum connected her to a community of Borges’ admirers in Europe, allowing her to feel like part of a community. From that feeling, Fake later went on to create several technologies to build online community. She wanted to share that feeling with others. Flickr is arguably the forefather of social media as we know it, and it sprang from the need to connect.

And while we’re on the topic, social media can be a great way to connect and stay in touch, especially if you’re a serial introvert. It’s almost impossible to stay in contact with your entire network of friends and family. But, social media allows you to see the highlight reel. Platforms like LinkedIn create an inroad for professional connections. YouTube connects you an entire planet of videos, where you can connect with others to learn anything from speaking a foreign language to rebuilding your car’s engine.

So whether it’s looking for your “tribe” or learning a new skill, technology provides a whole new medium to connect, allowing us to continually craft new relationships.