You may be reconnecting on Facebook or keeping up to date with Twitter. But as CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports some wonder if online social networking actually makes us less social in real life.Good old-fashioned family togetherness. Times like these are what many cherish as years tick by. But is socializing on the computer jeopardizing face-to-face family time?
"If I'm using Facebook, I might take an hour or two. It could be a significant portion of time," said college student Rahul Syamlal.
That also seems to be the suggestion of a recent survey by the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future; 28 percent of people interviewed say they're spending less time with family, triple from three years ago, while spending more time on social networking sites like Facebook.
"It's changing the meaning of sociability, that is what we do as social beings is being reorganized," said Communications Studies Professor Jim Ettema.
Ettema says that's nothing new. But is this change good? Or is all that clicking and hiding behind computer and cell phone screens taking its toll on how we get along in person?
"Does that mean we're less social? No, we're not less social, but we're differently social," Ettema said.
That's good to know considering the almost addictive lure of the sites for some. And there's no sense the trend will reverse ever with millions signing on to these sites every few months. But many also see a downside.
"I think it probably takes away from personal interactions if they let it get out of hand," said David Reid, Northwestern University.
"I feel like there are good things and bad things to it," said Evanston resident Linda Hyatt.
But this 23-year-old says she doesn't let the bad get the best of her or get in the way of the old-fashioned art of conversation.
"I feel like I personally still go out with friends and meet new people, and get in contact with people through Facebook," Hyatt said.
Professor Ettema says phones, even answering machines, historically elicited the same types of social concerns when they were introduced to society, but people got used to them and life went on.
And as long as people keep spending time with people, he believes there's hope for the human race.
"I feel like there are good things and bad things to it," said Evanston resident Linda Hyatt.
But this 23-year-old says she doesn't let the bad get the best of her or get in the way of the old-fashioned art of conversation.
"I feel like I personally still go out with friends and meet new people, and get in contact with people through Facebook," Hyatt said.
Professor Ettema says phones, even answering machines, historically elicited the same types of social concerns when they were introduced to society, but people got used to them and life went on.
And as long as people keep spending time with people, he believes there's hope for the human race.
