Social Media

I feel that social media today has completely changed the way that we communicate with one another. Some aspects of this change is quite wonderful while other aspects can be not so lovely. Ten years ago if you wanted to keep in touch with someone you had to call, email, text, write a letter, ask a mutual friend, or visit them in person, now you are able to hop on Facebook or Twitter and instantly see the happenings of your friends and acquaintances lives as well as THEIR friends and acquaintances. Depending on how much detail the individual shares on these sites you might know more about them than their own mother does! I love that you are able to keep in touch so easily but I also think it's taking away some of the special closeness that other forms of communication bring. For example, when you call a friend you are able to talk freely and fluidly, hearing the tones in each others voices, and gauging attitudes appropriately, and talking in privacy. While there is some loss of intimacy while using a social media site you are able to keep in touch with so many people that you wouldn't normally. You are able to see pictures and read updates of hundreds of people (if desired) and I personally have enjoyed this. I like that I have reconnected with old school friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. and I know that they have enjoyed reading about my life and seeing picture updates. Overall I think social media is a positive advancement and is only going to keep advancing.