Birkerts Has a Point

I spend a large majority of my time on communication technologies, especially social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.  Whether Im checking them first thing in the morning or during study breaks, I am constantly checking them.  My friends are the same way, we are constantly connected to one another despite the fact that we are all at different schools.  We communicate frequently and it is great to hear from a friend, who is all the way in Boston, Pennsylvania, or even California, in a matter of minutes.  This, to me, seems like a good thing, but Sven Birkerts does not agree.  He argues, in an online conference, that, "I'm almost tempted to say that we would do better with less communication, the more so if communication becomes a kind of stand in for facing oneself inwardly".  Even though the first time I read this, I couldn't have disagreed more, Birkerts has a valid point.  If I am not on my computer chatting with friends or text messaging someone, I don't like to be seen alone.  It makes me feel awkward and self conscious of what people may think of me.  

Another simple solution to my fear of being seen sitting alone would be to bring my homework out with me or reading a book, but I strongly prefer communication even if it isn't face to face.  Birkerts brings up the point that people don't read anymore and it is unfortunately true.  When I was younger, I loved to read for fun.  However, as I grew up and discovered the Internet and social networking sites, I began reading less and less to the point where I will only read a book if I need to for class, or if I'm on vacation.  I have read Woolf, but it was for a classs, therefore I was not enjoying the reading, I was focusing on what points I could write about from the text.   This is upsetting to think that something I used to enjoy is being boxed out by communication technologies.  Birkerts makes a strong point.  People today have increased their use of the Internet and it has taken a toll on their knowledge of literature and history.  These important subjects are extremely important, but is it possible that technology is becoming more important to us?