Hard disagree.

It brought panhandling to where generosity once prevailed.

It brought us social media engagement metrics and 140-character-limited 'interaction' and cluttered, flashing, distracting, human-psyche hacking interfaces.

It brought all the c*nts who only saw dollar signs.

Agree on HFT.

(Disclaimer: I'm focusing on the negatives to make a point, there probably are some wild benefits, but I'm on the side of preferring to have taken longer to get there without all the examples I've listed - yes, I'm wishing for utopia, it's my comment I can say what I want).

Edited to add: People would share their cats whether or not internet advertising existed. The cats would demand it.