NPR: Is Facebook (et al) Taking Over Your Life?

Is Facebook (et al) Taking Over Your Life?

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Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, MeetUp ... these days, there's a social networking site for your every need. But can you be too connected?

Blogger Natalie P. McNeal (via The Root) is feeling the urge to unplug:

"I manage my actual social life far better than my virtual one. I have my own operating hours, for instance, to coordinate time with friends who hang out too late on work nights. I take them to events like receptions that end by 10 p.m.

But with social networking sites, there isn't a clear beginning, middle or end. You start by snooping on friends' pages and posting pithy status updates, and next thing you know, you're losing hours playing Scrabulous, and you've slipped into a networking vortex.

... Between my multiple e-mail accounts, IMs, and my blog, I am a fully connected woman. I am not saying these social networks aren't fun. I'm just saying I need to unplug."

How connected are you? And where do you draw the line?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:22 PM ET | 05-15-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I've felt the need to unplug for over a year. I did so for a couple of weeks last November - no e-mails, no blog postings and limited cell phone use. Granted, it was during my vacation but it helped. Now, for the most part, I stay unplugged for the weekend.

Sent by Moji | 1:33 PM ET | 05-15-2008

My networks ebb and flow. For a while I checked my facebook account half a dozen times a day; now I'm lucky if I do it three times a week. I also have gotten very strict on whom I friend there, because of all the quasi-spam ("bacn") email it generates. Meanwhile, I've shifted most of my online social energies to Twitter, which I find infinitely more useful for personal and professional contacts throughout the day. It's even cut back on my need to blog, since I can often carry on a conversation or get a point across more efficiently with Twitter, especially because it's so mobile-friendly.

Sent by andy carvin, npr (aka @acarvin on Twitter) | 2:47 PM ET | 05-15-2008

I would say I'm pretty connected. I do, however, know how to disconnect. When I was in grad school I would disconnect at least once a week. I needed a break.

Now, I basically disconnect a few hours each evening and sometimes for the entire weekend.

If I am going on a weekend getaway, I totally disconnect. I'll bring the iPod for music and my digital camera. If I'm going on vacation, for 5-6 days I'll generally bring my laptop. It is useful for finding out about the place I'm visiting while I'm there. I don't, however, make it a habit of checking e-mail while vacationing.

Sent by ernise | 3:12 PM ET | 05-15-2008

As a writer, I'm at my computer for long stretches almost every day. I use MySpace, Facebook, and Yahoo Groups to keep in touch with fans. What really gets me, though, is Scrabulous--it's responsible for more "focus interruptus" than anything except naked maidens dancing outside my office window, which are a very rare occurrence. That darn word game is there all the time, though.

Sent by Dave Donelson | 10:44 AM ET | 05-17-2008

Thanks for posting my article!

Sent by Natalie P. McNeal (The Frugalista Files) | 3:08 PM ET | 07-09-2008

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