I was a social media holdout. I can admit now that I was concerned that writing my thoughts and actions online would replace the human contact and social element that I treasure with my friends. I cautiously waded into MySpace only when I realized that it was the sole channel of communication for some of my friends – my page still even reflects my hesitation.
Since that first foray into social networking, I have clearly seen the benefits of social media, and have grown a true love for it and everything that comes with the social media world. However, the more I receive short texts and Facebook messages and fewer phone calls from my loved ones, the more my original concerns grow. I can’t help but think that this new technology has made some people lazy when it comes to communication, and in turn made friendships and relationships less valuable.
What baffles me the most about this topic is that I am supposed to be part of the generation that finds this sort of communication acceptable. Am I missing something or am I just getting old [biting nails]?
According to a national survey from CTIA and Harris Interactive, “texting is replacing talking among teens. Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month.” Plus, the New York Times says 91 percent of people under 30 now respond to text messages within an hour, and are four times more likely to respond to texts than to voice messages within minutes.
It’s not that I don’t understand (or use) all of these fantastic new capabilities – texting and e-mailing are concise, discreet and make it much easier to store information – but should it replace a call back? How much information can you really share with a friend in a text message? Or even worse, do we really even care enough anymore to have an attentive and articulate conversation?
“It is all about multitasking, speed, privacy and control,” said Joseph Porus, VP & chief architect, Technology Group, Harris Interactive. But at what point do we draw the line between making relationships convenient as opposed to meaningful?
