Social Media – Where has the art of good conversation gone?

The growth of communications via social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter LinkedIn, blogging and others has been unbelievable over the past few years.  Facebook is now claiming that its fastest growing group are females between the ages of 55 – 65.  Those born in the mid 1990’s have grown up with cell phones, texting, email and Facebook as part of their day to day lives.

Yes where there is an upside there is a downside – where is the art of starting or holding a good conversation with someone face to face gone?  From what I can observe the teenagers and early twenties are holding the majority of their discussions over the internet using social media networks.  Young couples are texting each other from within the same room both working on their laptops or iPhones.  Is this the way of the future?

What has happened to just being able to actually start a conversation and talk face to face with someone.  Even talk over the telephone instead of texting.  I feel that these qualities and skills might disappear and the main form of communication will be via technologies networks.  How will individuals related to each other as couples and as work colleagues?  Maybe in years to come we will be running classes again on the art of communications teaching people how to just talk to each other again.

Communication is vital in our lives but not by social media alone – so lift your head or dial that number and just talk to someone today – maybe this post is a few years too soon?