Technology, Social Interaction, and Relationships

Recently, social interaction has been highly influenced by technology in a way that technology has been starting to replace the old ways of interaction.  On the whole, I personally believe that this spread of technology has a negative effect on face-to-face interaction.  In the olden days, the only way to communicate with someone is to physically go and talk to him or her.  Then, along the way came letters and telephones.  However, in those days, physical communication was always the highest priority.  Now, almost all three of those means of communication have disappeared.  Letters can be an exception because typing is almost like writing.  Anyways, currently, we live by text messages, instant messages, and social networks.  Because of this, there is hardly even time for face-to-face interaction.  I feel that due to this circumstance, as a society, we are going to become more and more less sociable and more socially awkward in the sense that when put in a situation consisting of little to no technology, we wouldn’t know what to do.  What interests me the most is what the future holds.  Nowadays, kids in elementary school have already discovered texting. In a few years, how developed will their social skills be if in their developmental stage, they were glued to their cellular phones?
Online relationships are a completely different story.  I feel that to some, it can actually be beneficial.  Obviously, if someone is searching for a companion online, there must be something holding them back from doing in the real world whether is be a physical or mental disability.  By engaging in these types of activities online, it takes away the initial nervousness.  Online profiles of the person can show exactly what they want people to see instead of just what sticks out.  Of course, people with disabilities will list them and people with physical insecurities will post a picture, but it won’t go out to the world, but instead only to those who will accept it.  In this kind of scenario I feel that online relationships can be very beneficial.  However, for those who are more than capable to find a companion in the real world, but instead run to the Internet, I don’t think that it is that beneficial to them.  It takes away a lot of the characteristics that make a relationship special.  Also, it just takes for granted the relationships that have already been made by relying on websites to find someone “compatible.”
As a society, we need to make sure our world doesn’t evolve into a virtual world.  We need the real world for we are real people and we need real relationships with those around us.  Although technology can be very useful, it should only be side dish in our relationships instead of being the full meal.