Is Social Media Really Social?

Everyone talks about how important the use of Social Media is today. Depending on how comprehensive a definition you wish to use, social media can include sites like Facebook, Flikr, LinkedIn, TwitterActive Rain, MySpace,YouTube, etc., as well as Blogs, e-mail, personal or business websites, etc. But are these sites really social?
Granted you contact many other people. But far too often these sites are used so that an individual can somewhat anonymously "speak" to others, without having to make eye contact.
While I completely believe in using these media and do, I still believe the "old-fashioned" method of "face-to-face" contact, or picking up a phone are still more effective. Social media is best used to drive a reader's attention to a more detailed blog or website, and that those formats drive business or contacts to the writer or creator of the site/ blog. However, the use and effectiveness of a Blog or a website is ONLY as effective as how well that vehicle stirs interest or excitement in the reader. Blogs and websites must meet a reader's expectations, or they will only be looked at once!
Think about how often you send an e-mail and don't get a response. Or the response doesn't answer the question, or elicits another question. Think of the amount of time and energy that have been wasted, when simply picking up the phone might have quickly resolved the issue.
E-mail and social media are best used either as an introduction, or a follow-up to other forms of contact, or when the other more personal forms are impossible to achieve.
I fear that far too many are becoming too dependent on this non-personal form of communication, and that important messages might be misconstrued. Think about it.

I DO USE SOCIAL MEDIA:

Follow me on Twitter: @rgbrody
I'm on Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace & Active Rain
My Real estate only blog is: http://tinyurl.com/rgbreb
Check Out my Real Estate Website: www.portwashingtonlongislandhouses.com
Check out my Consulting Website: http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons