It’s a small world, and with the internet and modern technology, it’s getting smaller every day.

While some people use technology to deceive, manipulate, or take advantage of others, there’s another side to it that’s often overlooked. People are also using it to communicate, connect, and protect one another. Where once it was difficult to trace patterns of deception, today information travels quickly. Experiences are shared. Stories connect. Patterns emerge.

In small communities especially, people talk — not always as friends, but as informed observers. Social media has created networks where information is exchanged, concerns are raised, and behaviour is quietly noted. Speaking out no longer requires confrontation. Awareness doesn’t always announce itself.

From a psychological perspective, people often underestimate collective intelligence. They assume silence means ignorance. In reality, silence often means observation. From a neuroscience standpoint, humans are highly attuned to inconsistency and pattern recognition. We notice when stories don’t align. We compare notes, consciously or unconsciously.

So it’s worth remembering: just because no one is challenging you directly doesn’t mean they aren’t aware. Just because there’s no immediate consequence doesn’t mean there won’t be one.

Truth has a way of surfacing — sometimes slowly, sometimes quietly — but almost always eventually.