[mikemikemike]

If you haven't noticed the impact social media has had on our world, you have not been paying attention. Yes, people waste an astounding amount of time with it. People (and businesses) are also more connected than ever before. I've learned that people I know died through social media, I've generated sales for small businesses through social media, and revolutions have been coordinated through social media: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2014/01/18/if-you-dou...

[monkmartinez]

I am paying attention, that is why I question the very existence of these types of sites. Everything you mentioned was possible long before the invention of the telegram... what is your point? I will stick to my guns here: Most of these sites tend to afflict one with or are used because of ennui, in my opinion. Beyond that... nothing.

[mercer]

A number of my good friendships would not have existed without Facebook to bridge the gap that a traveling lifestyle created between our initial contact and our later co-existence.

Could we have simply sent letters, or emails? Yes, but we probably wouldn't have done this. Does this benefit offset the negative impact of sites like Facebook? I don't know, and I think it's too early to tell.

But to say these sites are not useful is a bit too extreme a statement, in my opinion. I know many people who happily use social sites just to augment their social lives...