Is it possible that services such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and even texting...

[renewed]

can actually hinder socializing? What are some of your opinions and be nice to each other .

Due to the post below maybe I should elaborate: Hindering outside socializing, i.e. communicating at school, the work place, while in groups of people, speeches in front of people etc..

It's simple to sit at home in front of your computer and "electronically socialize" but does it have an impact on real-world interaction?

 

[doubleohseven]

Services such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and SMS all 'connect' us to our family and friends electronically anyway, so we're not really hindering socialising...unless we're using those services while talking to other people or with a large group of people.

 

[Elixer]

I think in some aspects it does hinder real socialization. One thing that really bothers me is texting. You see people texting long conversations. It never made sense to me, just call the person it's faster. Plus you can tell what their emotions are when you actually hear their voice.

Facebook is out of hand, so many people I know are constantly on the site, getting the latest gossip, starting pointless drama, playing farmville, etc.

Give it time well end up like the people in Wall-e, lol.

 

[mscriv]

Interesting story... I was in the mall a few weeks ago walking along and I noticed two girls ahead of me walking together and talking. They looked to be around 13 - 15 years old. Well, as teenage girls are known to do, they were just talking away to the point that each could barely get a word in, or so I thought. As I walked past them I realized that each had a Bluetooth earpiece in and they were "together" but each having independent conversations with someone else on the phone.

I thought to myself, how sad. What is the point of going to the mall with someone if you're not even going to interact with them while there? So, I say all of that to say that I think some or our technology and newfound social tools definitely have the potential to hinder actual real human social and personal interaction. The key is finding a proper balance and using the tool as opposed to letting the tool own and define you.

 

[renewed]

The key is finding a proper balance and using the tool as opposed to letting the tool own and define you.

Completely agree with this. I think, for example facebook, electronic interaction can be somewhat good, if used correctly. Facebook is neat in that you can send out invitations to events or parties, but in that you are going to a party to hang out and socialize. Real interaction.

What's funny to me is that I have seen my friends be at social events and I look over their shoulder at their phones (i.e. iPhone) and see them on Facebook or Myspace. I want to say: "you're in a room full of people and you are worried about what people you aren't with are doing on facebook". It's just sad.

 

[Ke1ington]

This is the main reason I got rid of my Facebook and MySpace pages. It's gotten to the point where somebody will message you on Facebook asking if you want to get together. My stepmom was sending me Facebook messages updating me on my dying grandfather.

Don't these seem like situations where you would want to actually call someone?

 

[MattSepeta]

Over connected

Facebook is the STRANGEST thing to me.

I think it is straight up creepy that you can see those update status feed things of what all of your "friends" are doing at any given moment, or for that matter, have been doing for the past YEAR.

WHO CARES???

I feel like I ostracized myself when I deleted my facebook, then I realized it did NOT benefit me in ANY way. I could care less about what test a friend is studying for, or how some random guy I met at a parties day at work went. I just DONT CARE, and cant be bothered by that crap.

There are like 5 people in my life I actually could give a rip about, and I prefer to talk to them in person.

My two ¢: Facebook, myspace, youtube, etc.....
Just the next step in the voyeurization (sp?) of America. The world, for that matter. Reality Tv shows? Terrible, but for some reason, people still watch.
Social networking sites? Asinine, narcissistic, ridiculousness. Yet people will still get home from work/school/whatever and log in, and read a bunch of crap that a bunch of random people did.

Why anybody feels that anybody else should be inclined to read their "wall" is beyond me.

If you dont stop feeding the beast, it will do nothing but grow.

Delete your Facebook!

Besides, then you will have more time to spend on macrumors!!!!!

 

[tammyinkansas]

Just like anything, the social networking sites can be used for good intentions or bad. Personally, I think Myspace is 1 huge cheaters haven and a complete waste of time UNLESS you are genuinely wanting to just get in touch with old schoolmates or find long lost loves or family. In which you can set your settings so that people who dont know your last name cant contact you. I got sucked into it myself and one day realized I had been sitting at my computer for 4 straight hours just searching for graphics to put on my myspace page. What a waste of time.

 

[samiwas]

Facebook is the STRANGEST thing to me.

WHO CARES???

I feel like I ostracized myself when I deleted my facebook, then I realized it did NOT benefit me in ANY way. I could care less about what test a friend is studying for, or how some random guy I met at a parties day at work went. I just DONT CARE, and cant be bothered by that crap.

There are plenty of people who use Facebook in the manner you describe....adding people they meet at a party or just some random classmate. Whatever. That is the thing that gives a service like this the bad rap. Yes, some people use it ad nauseam and add anyone who asks or will accept, or spend all day playing FarmVille. I have finally gotten rid of an old friend who spends, from what I can tell, every waking moment on Facebook. She has nearly 2000 "friends" and spends all day and night playing Facebook games. THAT is what you are seeing.

Then there are people like me. I use it to keep up with old friends who I have gotten back in touch with after years. I read their status updates, and enjoy seeing what everyone is up to. It's not like I'd be talking to each old friend on the phone every day. Honestly, I really don't have that much to talk about with many of them, but it's still interesting to see what they're up to. I don't aggressively read each and every update of every person.

Then there's my wife. She keeps a good number of friends, but goes through a "cleansing" every couple of months getting rid of anyone she doesn't talk to on a regular basis and blocking anyone she doesn't care to talk to.

I guess it is what you make of it. But to paint it as "it's only bad, nothing else" is just foolish.