What happens if bitcoin mining difficulty increases?

As a cryptocurrency investor, I'm curious to know, what are the potential implications of an increase in Bitcoin mining difficulty? How does it affect the miners, the overall network, and ultimately, the value of bitcoin? Would such a change make it harder for new miners to join the network, or would it simply lead to a more stable and secure blockchain? I'm eager to understand the nuances of this process and how it impacts the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.