Are Social Networks Ruining your Social Life?

While driving home from work a few days ago, I was listening to my usual radio station (Boston’s Mix 98.5), and a host was making fun of his co-host for spending so much time on Facebook. He couldn’t believe people are so “addicted” to Facebook when they could be spending quality time with their friends in person. He ranted on and on, seeming to think that Facebook users are socially inept, and wouldn’t listen to the reasons why Facebook is useful.

Since web 2.0 is a big part of my life, this really got me thinking. My job is to create social media applications, one of my hobbies is blogging, and all my friends are on Facebook. I also started college in Boston when Facebook was new, and I thought it was the most awesome thing since peanut butter.

Even though I’m a bit too old to say I grew up with Facebook, it’s hard to remember a time when I checked my email and then didn’t check my Facebook newsfeed right after. So according to this radio host, I’m socially incompetent. And so are all my friends. But I completely disagree. I still think Facebook is the coolest thing since peanut butter.

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So what do you think? Do you think social networks are a threat to interpersonal relationships? Or do you think that they are a positive addition to society?