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Has Internet Communication Reached Saturation Point?

An interesting trend the United States these days, especially among high school and college student, is the move towards more personal relationships and a move away from the world of social networking. It seems that these youngsters are getting tired of the false, virtual relationships to be found on sites such as MySpace and Facebook and are, instead, turning back to warmer, face-to-face relationships.

In recent years, youngsters have been depending more and more on the internet, cell phones and text messaging to increase their social circles. Many experts have long maintained that this kind of virtual communication has a serious downside and that students are missing out a lot in what is really required out of a relationship. Many youngsters also use these electronic methods as an easy way out of potentially uncomfortable situations, such as canceling an appointment or asking a girl out on a date. Recent statistics in the San Francisco area show that in a typical upper middle income area, most students were members of MySpace and 89% owned cell phones ? making virtual relationships quite the norm.

Recently, however, blogs and student newspapers have seen articles regarding electronic communication and the need by some students to simply switch off and turn to a closer, real circle of friends. Whether this means canceling their MySpace account or phasing out their Facebook profile, many students are realizing that there is a superficial element to e-relationships and they are taking the necessary steps to rediscover the special depth that true friendship brings.