Social Media: Am I socially engaged or am I socially addicted?

Am I socially engaged or am I socially addicted?

Is being socially networked on Twitter, facebook, mySpace, skype, linkedin, foursquare, Google buzz, or posterous a real engagement? I’d like to think that life has somehow not become reliant on status updates and tweets but on real interaction. My most enjoyable moments in life aren’t sitting behind a digital screen tapping away my existence. Don’t get me wrong, I feel connected in the online world. I even love the ability to connect to so many people in a stroke of a button. I’m a self-confessed Social (Media) Activist and a Social Media Groupie. I’m in love with my iPhone and if only they had a husband app, I’d be set. All jokes aside, I wonder if the online world is real engagement or is it addiction? I sat on the beach last weekend, with my gorgeous girls playing in the sand and water. Whilst I sat on the sand, tapping away on my iPhone, connecting and engaging with a lot of people, but I suddenly realised that I wasn’t present. I had forgotten about my family and was immersed in the digital world. Was I really doing this? I quickly put my phone away and had a ball of a time with the people that matter most to me.

I want to raise the question of how many precious moments are we missing in the real world? Think about the personal interaction that delivers real euphoria. When your loved one kisses you, hugs you tight, or holds your hand. When someone dear, visits you unexpectedly, takes you to lunch or you have a great time together, just hanging out. When your child snuggles into you, says something hillarious or just looks at you like noone else in the universe matters. I think that’s real engagement…