Technology and social media. Helping social interactions or not?

So it's kinda ironic to ask this in this kind of forum, but whatever.

What do you think about the title?

I'm 26. When I was 15 I didn't even have a mobile phone to chat with my friends. I did have a phone that was just for emergencies and maybe call my parents if something came up and I couldn't find a pay phone. That phone always stayed in my backpack and I literally never checked it for missed calls.
Now I have a smartphone and the most it stays in my pocket without being checked is like 90 minutes. No less.

I've had internet access since I was 11. And I got my first real mobile phone when I was 17 (2004). I live in a developing country and mobile phones gained popularity in 2005-2006.

I live in a rather big city. When I was a teenager, me and my friends would just meet somewhere we had agreed implicitly. No text messages, no Facebook, Twitter, messenger. Nothing.
Internet access wasn't for everyone. Now anyone from middle and upper classes has internet access.

My point is that I would just meet with my friends and that was it.


Now it's so different. You make plans today with someone for this Saturday, and on Friday or Saturday there will be an outburst of text messages or something to check the time, place, to say someone's gonna be late or can't make it. Back in those days you just had to go. You couldn't locate someone anywhere anytime, especially one hour before the agreed time, so you had to go and meet.
I know it adds up that we are grown ups now and have jobs and other things to do. But still, I feel that technology in that way is not doing something good, because generally people don't use it well.
I can't count how many times I was having coffee with friends and I was like talking and looking at the ceiling 'cause they were ALL doing something in their fu***** phones. That's so rude, and so natural nowadays!

Back in those days I would chat with my friends and if something we didn't know came up, we would talk about it the next day or once we had looked it up somewhere. Now there can't pass a single second without everyone grabbing their phones to check whatever the topic it is we don't know about and be gone in mind and soul for like ten minutes.

Somehow I got tired of social interaction through Facebook and closed my account on April 24th, three days before my birthday. I just can't believe I haven't used it again yet. I think I can be like this at least until summer (December).



So in my opinion technology in the communications can be something really useful, but people in general don't use it well.
What do you think?

Oh well, look at me
All new and already started a mess

Well I don't consider SevenForums as social media. I said it's ironic because I believe that most people here just love techy devices and can't live without. So what I said is like attacking technology.
Of course, I didn't mean that. It's just that... well, you know, I already explained it.

I never ever meant to compare a tech forum with Facebook or Twitter. No way.

Right now I have the best example of what I said.
Today is one of my best friend's birthday party. We are all gathering at a restaurant and then we'll go out, probably a nightclub.
Anyway, it's 9:18 PM. I said I'd arrive at 10:30 because I can't leave home before 10 as I have to watch my nephew. He said to be there at 9:30, last Tuesday when he made the arrangement. People are chatting in the WhatsApp group conversation about "have you already left your house?" "are you going?" and sh*t. I mean come on, he said 9:30, just go! For the love of god. It freaks me out. I didn't even reply because I don't wanna start a fight. But I guess all of you know what I mean.

That's the kind of stuff that freaks me out and makes me hate this social all communicated world. Just use the chance to get in touch with anyone anywhere if you really need it. "Can't make it, my grandma died". "Sorry I have diarrhea, I'll be late". WHATEVER. Do they really need to ask 12 minutes before the agreed time if we are going?

It's not like they are bad friends, but I find this to be a common behavior among all people. At least people under 30 who live where I live.
I know the girls will be posting to Facebook about the birthday tonight. As I said I closed my account two months ago. But I can recall browsing the Facebook newsfeed a Sunday morning after a night out with friends and seeing that people posted stuff at the time we were together, and then it hit me "oh that's why they spent 40 minutes with their phone in their hands".

Maybe people in other countries are, in general, more polite and don't do this.

THE LUNATIC LONER BADGE. That cracked me up haha!

Well I do agree it's an off topic section so it's like everything goes.


And, secondly, I will always choose talking over texting. It's much more comfortable and will get it done quicker.


Well the party was good and like I thought there would be moments like this: http://imageshack.us/a/img692/3448/rm0m.jpg (actual photo)

But, meh, what can I do? I'll never be able to change that.
I recognize I was like this, but only lasted for about 2 months up until I realized how stupid I was being.


I'll just have to deal with it.
It's just that... I don't know... I don't like talking with someone while they do something else on the phone. They just don't realize it.