Is the change in communication these days (cell phones/Facebook etc.) necessarily a good thing?

[Penelope]

I think it's safe to say that communication methods are drastically changing. Test messages, Facebook, even things like Yahoo Answers: Technologically advanced communication forms are creeping up everywhere.

My question is, is this all (or at all) a good thing? My generation ( I am 18) seems to be glued to their cell phones, texting every minute, not actually BEING with the people they are with, but being somewhere else. I'll have dinner with someone and their cell phone will go off numerous times and they will CHECK IT (this is not due to an emergency, rather someone's instant text of "Sup" or "what time are we going to the movies next week" , some people when in large groups even keep their cell phones ON TOP of the table. Rude much? My little cousin (14) was texting underneath the table the whole time at a family dinner.

Facebook, another thing no one seems able to see the bad side too, basically has a monopoly on socialization in my generation on MULTIPLE levels. If you TRULY wanted to keep in touch with someone, wouldn't you do it with out Facebook? Also, the advertisements are everywhere, corporate America is IN YOUR FACE every second you are on that site.

I know that cell phones, Facebook, the internet, i pods, etc. make everything EASY. That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking, does anyone my age (but this question is certainly not restricted to those in my generation) see the NEGATIVE aspects of these things?

[Christy V]

I've always felt that I am the most old fashioned person ever. I feel like I should have been born in like 1918 or something like that.. I personally feel that all communication between people has lost its intimacy. Before.. people would write to one another. People would actually sit down and think about every word they were writing to you...and when you read it you knew that someone had spent time on merely communicating with you. It was more special. These days its like we cant even greet someone for christmas.. its usually a 'group text'.. so unspecial. I think that for professional purposes all these advancements in communicating are great.. but the price is that everyone has lost touch with the importance of communication.