Social Media Making Us Less Social?

It’s rare that I share an article read previously in Costco’s Connection Magazine – this is an exception, however.  Dr. Gregory Jantz (www.drgregoryjantz.com) shared the following point of view.  Just consider the implications.  And I quote:  “Observe a group of people at a bus stop, in line for an event, at a restaurant or even around your family room or dinner table.  Instead of interacting with those around them, chances are high that many are studiously ignoring the people in their immediate vicinity in favor of a mobile device.  Society is becoming digitally drenched.  According to recent studies, anywhere from 95 to 98 percent of 18-24 year-olds are online, with the majority using social media.  The percentage of people online in older age groups isn’t as high, but it’s increasing.  Social interactions are being translated into digital data points.

Some may argue that social media help people to be more social.  It is true that people, especially women, use social networking to keep connected to family and friends, but what does that connection consist of?  Pictures?  Snippets with 140 characters?  A truncated, alphabet soup of letters that must be decoded before being understood?  The digital pool we swim in can be miles wide, but in reality it’s often only inches deep.

Real social connection simply requires more depth, made up of conversations, verbal give-and-takes where thoughts and opinions are exchanged.  Deeper connection is face-to-face, body-tobody, with the non-verbal conversation so vital to true understanding.  Much of social media is written.  There are no expressions or gestures or body language to help enlighten.  Real emotions can get lost in the translation to cartoonish emotions.

Real social connection requires time.  Technology was supposed to give us more time, but the inverse seems to be happening.  The time we gained is increasingly sucked down a digital hole as we try to keep up with the breakneck pace of life.  Often I see people put others on hold in order to connect with their devices.  How much interaction are we missing to keep up with what we’re missing?

The accessibility, control and anonymity of the digital age are compelling and hook people to their technology.  If we’re not careful, interacting with our devices will become the point, and the reason;  connecting with people will lose priority.  People will lose priority and convenience will become king.  A virtual life is not real life.  It is a controlled construct with carefully crafted images and the ability at any time to delete or defriend.  If we’re not careful, our avatars will end up having more virtual friends than we have real ones.”

Hey, I’m just delivering someone else’s message.  Only you can decide the priority you demonstrate between your online and offline relationships.  I welcome your response!