Connections made so much easier

"We have technology, finally, that for the first time in human history allows people to really maintain rich connections with much larger numbers of people." - Pierre Omidyar

Indeed.

Designed for social interaction, social media use highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques, and web-based technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue. As compared to traditional media, it is rich in content and its reach spans across the globe. Because of the user-generated nature of social media, it is very much interactive, perhaps one of the reasons for the richer connections with so many more people.

Also one of the reasons I disagree that social media is a bad idea. While it may have caused a little bit of invasion of privacy, I must admit that it has allowed me to "be in contact" with a larger number of people, something I might not have been able to do without it.

For one, social networking websites such as Facebook and microblogging ones like Twitter have made it all the more easier for me to keep myself updated about my friends. I don't necessarily have to call them to ask how they are, because the moment I log onto those websites all information is spread before my very eyes, right down to the littlest details. The sheer amount of people on Facebook certainly highlights the important social need: people need to connect. And they want to connect.

Furthermore, you get to comment on almost everything, from the status updates to photos and even videos and sometimes you get instant replies - communication made faster and easier without having to meet each other physically. Which brings us to Skype and webcams that allow you to even see each other in the comfort of your own home. What's not to love?

Such functions just underscore the sheer efficiency "for people to communicate, get information and share information" (Zuckerberg, n.d.)

But this again brings us to the question: as much as we may all embrace social network with open arms now, will we ever get burdened by the information overload?