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Let’s face it, social networking is fun. It’s a great way to connect with people we’ve just met (in person or online), or those that we’ve lost touch with. It’s a great tool for keeping up with everyday happenings in our friends’ and families’ lives.

But has it really brought us any closer together?

Here are some things I know about how social networks affect my life:

1. I spend way more time on the computer than I used to. (more than I should, frankly)

2. My head is filled with way more stupid shit than it used to be.

3. Drama is easily fueled.

4. I hate talking on the phone.

5. I never miss birthdays.

6. I never miss anything.

7. Everything you say, can and will be used to judge you.

8. Once you say it, you can’t get rid of it. Not even if you delete it.

I began embracing technology around the age of 11 when I started junior high school. I always thought computers were pretty nifty. I began social networking through dial up bulletin boards when I was 21. It was amazing what you could do with a Commodore64 back in those days! Now it’s become so easy, so accessible. Used to be the connection was so slow that eventually you’d get bored and get off of the damn thing. Not anymore. It’s there, 24/7, taunting you across all time zones, instantaneously.

When was the last time you picked up the phone to talk to someone? Do you find yourself texting or messaging more than talking? I think it’s important for us to find a balance. It’s too easy to get lost in an online world where feelings are interpreted by the reader and not the poster. We’re not witnessing true socialization, it’s more like an alternate universe. As desperate as we are to connect with others, I think in some ways social media is only making us more lonely.

Food for thought.