Social Technology

I am fascinated about the topic of whether or not people in our young generation, say 15 - 25 year-olds are actually less socially aware or more socially aware. I have had conversations with people who bemoan the fact that young people always have their faces in technology and rarely talk face-to-face with other people. They interpret this activity as being less social.

I often suggest, however (after observing my own children), that they are more socially aware. They seem to always be connected to a friend or family member. They have ties to friends who have long left the same school or even the same state.

I don't remember being this connected when I was their age. I think their ability to connect via cell phone, MySpace or Facebook, or chat defines them as being more socially aware.

Another area that seems very different from my youth is multi-player gaming. People are playing games and collaborating with other people from all over the globe--learning skills like team building, how to recruit strong players to your team, and how to retain them once they are board. I can't wait to see if these skills transfer to the workplace.

Let me know what you think. Does technology enhance or hinder our ability as humans to connect and be social?