Being human has always meant thinking about what people will think of what you are doing. What outfit should I wear? Should I say this joke in this room?
There has always been a performance aspect to living in congregation with other people. Your audience can shape you. It can shape you for the worse or for the better.
I wouldn't use alt text, I wouldn't know as much about trans people, I wouldn't question when things are US centric as much if not for social media.