By Sora Hwang

“I sent you a friend request,” “He just liked my profile picture,” and “Follow me on Twitter” were sentences that were never heard just a few years ago. This generation’s vocabulary has completely changed as technology has advanced and new forms of staying connected have emerged. These sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, and advanced cell phones have helped unite people, but when does it become too much?

When three of my friends started off their careers at the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy last summer, we were stumped when we realized they would not have phones or computers. Now, I still have a pile of letters in my desk from that one summer alone. For people you have already met and know, handwritten letters or cards are much more personal than a quickly typed e-mail or Facebook message.

Thanks to programs like Skype, distance has become more of a mere number than a problem. Unfortunately, that can take away from the excitement of a reunion. Thanks to Twitter, people can be aware of their friends’ thoughts and actions without ever speaking. Unfortunately, the amount of conversations can decrease.

There is just something special and different about seeing a person face to face to share something and hearing a person’s voice over the phone rather than simply in your mind as you read a text message. As much as technology has helped us keep in touch and stay as connected as ever, it cannot make up for those special instances. Any coveted piece of information is available on the Internet.

As Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother,” he said when attempting to date someone new (again), getting to know someone for yourself rather than snooping on the Internet is much more fulfilling. As helpful as technology has been, it won’t hurt to occasionally put away the cell phones and computers to see people in person – or even just get some alone time.

Image Source: We Heart It