Innella Jeremiad

If there was one thing that I believe needs lamenting, it would be the fact that, most of America cannot be taken away from technology. When walking down the street, I constantly see people on their phone, people with a bluetooth in their ear, and sometimes even texting while walking. I have even seen someone walk into a sign because they were too busy texting rather than paying attention to where they are walking.

It is not only cell phones that are the problem, computers are distancing many from real socialization. It seems as if everyone is always connected to Facebook or Twitter. It is as if society has forgotten how to actually socialize. All conversations seem to take place on Facebook. I have gone out with friends and have heard them say "did you see what that person wrote on that girl's wall last night?". It is as if our lives now mostly exist online. When two people start dating, it is not "official" unless it is confirmed on Facebook. That is how ridiculous society is getting. I understand this mostly pertains to the youth of the country but I often see it with adults as well. This constant reliance on social networking is affecting our socialization skills.

Before I came to school this fall, I had talked to several people through Facebook. I had even started to develop friendships with some of these people. However, as soon as I got to school, it was awkward. We would see each other in the hall, know that we were friends online, but never speak. I have spoken to a couple of my friends about this and they have gone through the same scenario. The problem is that we really too much on these websites but then we cannot continue the socialization in the real world.

The country is becoming too attached to technology and at the same time straying from our social values. We need to detach ourselves from the internet and communicate with each other in the ways that we did before there were cell phones and internet.