There isn’t a human being on this earth that has not at least heard of Facebook, Twitter, or Skype! We were all excited when we learned about these cool social networks which allowed us to communicate with people who we either have never met before in person or whom we have not seen or spoken to in over 30 years! It’s amazing how many family members and child hood friends who have found me via Facebook! Just a few months ago I found my first best friend ever and one of my college roommates found out that she had a brother, that attended the same University as we did, via Facebook! There is no doubt that this is a phenomenal invention BUT can these social networks be damaging real life relationships???!…

Unfortunately where there are positives there are usually negatives and I think we all have experienced at least one or two while using these popular social networks! The downside that’s been discovered is that sites such as Facebook and Twitter have allowed people to form false identities of perceptions about themselves or other people. Another downside is the fact that, because saying hello to a good friend or family member takes a quick post and a click, personal one-on-one quality has become almost extinct within relationships.

A friend of mine expressed her frustration of being at dinner the other night with four other adults and looking up and noticing every few seconds that they all had their heads down and were consumed by whatever was on the screens of their cellular phones. Her phone was in her purse and on silent as a courtesy to the people that she was at dinner with. Her intentions were to give them all of her attention during that time and enjoy their company. But sadly, nowadays if you do not have a phone in your hand you’re looked at as if something is wrong with you! Lol!

What were people doing before the instant notifications of email, text messages, wall posts, tweets and reminders???…. They WAITED! So what has changed that people now feel this deathly urgency to answer/respond to one another immediately!? It is not so much that the pretend relations that are formed via these networks are so bad, but it is the real life existing ones that seem to suffer the most! I am guilty! My best friends have received lesser and lesser phone calls from me over the years because with a quick text or Facebook wall posts we feel as though we have done our civil duty to one another! Or what about the intimate relationships such as boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife and even potential relationships?! The minute your interactions with one another have hit the News Feed, everyone and their mother have formed an opinion about you and are now watching your relationship like a television show, waiting for the drama, the plot and the ending!

The text messaging disease that is spreading around the world is one that is personally driving me bonkers! Do you know how many poor guys have been placed on the back burner and forgotten about because they chose to text message me ONLY!?! I use to laugh at my little sister because of how much her and her friends texted and I actually was under the misconception that it was only her generation (90′s babies) that were infected with this virus BUT boy was I wrong! Guys (and girls) from their late 40′s, down to their early 20′s have seemed to be sickened with this plague as well! Yes text messaging now has these really cool emojis that enable you to make little animated faces to express your feelings within a text but come on!…The real emotion within a text message is about as real as that cartoon emoji in that cyber conversation! How can you truly and effectively get to know someone with out speaking to and spending time with them! Riddle me this!!!

So now you ask yourself, how can I fix this problem! Well this is what I’ve told myself!… Limit your usage to the bare necessities! Pick up the phone and dial, not text but dial your loved ones and those you’re getting to know’s numbers at least once a month. Personal relationships should be kept just that, personal and realize that no one’s life is in danger if you make them wait a couple of hours before you respond to their tweet, so that you can give your full and undivided attention to your child’s recital, that intimate lunch date or friendly movie that you’re attending. Make memories as they come and enjoy the ones that are always in front of you!

Good Luck!!!