Obviously necessary and good to spent some time away from technology, but there's a big difference between social media and playing Doom (offline) in your basement. Technology isn't necessarily isolating.
Blaise Alleyne | Homepage | 12.02.08 - 10:33 am | #

A nytimes article reports a study by the MacArthur foundation that finds Teenagers' internet socializing is not a bad thing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/2...20online& st=cse
Jill | 12.02.08 - 12:04 pm | #

Technology may not be isolating in all circumstances, but it certainly can be, even social technologies. I see it happening to me at times, even while at college and surrounded by people. While interning several hundred miles away from home and from school I lived in a house full of renters, most rarely home and older than me, who rarely interacted with each other. The loneliness I felt some days after work taught me that social technologies may assist with communication but fail to replace interpersonal contact. It's obvious of course, but its amazing the ease with which AIM, cell phones, email, ect. can reduce contact with actual humans.
Ryan | Homepage | 12.02.08 - 4:01 pm | #

"The loneliness I felt some days after work taught me that social technologies may assist with communication but fail to replace interpersonal contact."

Definitely agree.
Blaise Alleyne | Homepage | 12.02.08 - 8:16 pm | #

Blaise and Ryan,

I couldn't agree with you more. Info Tech is not necessarily isolating, but it seems to sway in that direction. Better to go out with friends more than to sit at home and IM too much.
Teep | 12.04.08 - 3:30 am | #