This question could be interpreted in a couple of different ways, but I’ll address my methods of communication. It amazes me when I really think about how much this has changed for me in the last 20 years or so. I’m a member of the generation that has transitioned from snail mail to email; from phone calls to texting. Many times, face-to-face interactions are replaced by Facebooking or texting. My daughters’ generation has basically grown up on technology and the majority of my mother’s generation has never braved the new technology, so my generation is unique in experiencing both sides of the coin.
I’m in the camp that sees these innovations as a positive thing for the most part. Social media has enabled me to foster new relationships and rekindle old friendships. I feel more engaged with my friends and more connected to the outside world. I love checking Facebook in the morning and seeing what challenges and delights face my friends for the day, reading an insightful, thought-provoking blog, or signing in at the end of a long, tiring day and having my mood lifted by reading a humorous status. I can keep in better touch with my daughters, who may not answer their phones but will respond to a text (go figure). And I even found a new local cycling partner through a friend of a friend.
As for the negative points about social media… we’ve all heard the horror stories about identity theft and cyber stalking. We’ve heard that people have lost their jobs over comments or photos they’ve shared with the world on Facebook. Well, that's what the privacy settings are for and it's always imperative to use discretion in postings. It’s true that all the instantaneous gratification can potentially spell trouble if you’re not careful. It’s awfully easy to embarrass yourself by accidentally hitting the reply button rather than forward (voice of experience here!). It’s tempting to send off an angry email or make a negative posting in the heat of the moment, before fully thinking about the consequences. On the flip side, by writing rather than speaking, I have a chance to more carefully formulate my responses and get my wording just right, without having to speak “off the cuff.” I never was too great at thinking quickly on my feet!
Even so, every once in awhile I still find myself picking up a pen and paper to write an old-fashioned letter. There’s still something appealing and personally satisfying about conveying thoughts in my own handwriting. And I feel a deep appreciation when others do the same.
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