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I’d argue the opposite: the universe, and by extension digital spaces, are not projections of our inner state but external realities that shape us, that affects our inner state. Consciousness doesn’t precede the world, it emerges from it! To suggest otherwise risks downplaying the very real law of physics.

In your particular case, the online world is the reflection and collective attitude of the state of the material, economic, and political structures that define our current existence in the world and by extension how we experience it.

For example, the “emptiness” many feel isn’t just self-projection; it’s engineered! Platforms are built to maximize engagement and extract value. They are optimized to force their users as a binary soulless machine who are only capable of liking or disliking. Their (most online platforms') design choices create environments that feel shallow and addictive. Concluding that it is individuals who are “projecting emptiness” is erroneous, and it will shift the real issue which is that it will divert the responsibility away from the systems profiting from these dynamics.

Yes, personal intention matters, but it operates within a framework largely beyond individual control. To me, it’s less about reshaping inner resonance and more about demanding outer structures that support genuine connection.

I think you raise an important point about the role of the observer. While algorithms and platforms undeniably shape much of our online experience, there’s something powerful in acknowledging our own responsibility for how we engage. Approaching digital spaces with intention, whether for clarity, connection, or creative exploration, does tend to shift the quality of the interactions we notice and nurture. At least, I have observed this!

What resonates with me is the idea of resonance itself. Online environments are amplifiers: they magnify what we bring into them. If we arrive distracted, we find noise; if we arrive focused, we’re more likely to notice signal. However, this doesn’t erase systemic issues like polarization or manipulation, but it does suggest a layer of agency we sometimes overlook.

In that sense, digital life may be less about escaping into an alternate reality and more about refining how we show up in the one we already co-create.