According to its definitions, communication is so much more than the simple transmission of data. It is every bit as much a gesture, a look, an expression with the information tucked neatly between the conscious and unconscious mannerisms we use to convey the message. Social media has a way of allowing us to expose our thoughts without providing us the same opportunity to convey ourselves.

Lloyd, Dean, and Cooper found social media providing a means for students to avoid many aspects of the communication loop, by simply allowing students to safely present their data without having to "take the risk" of injecting their selves into the equation. Apparently, the benefits of using social media are far eclipsed by the issues it raises: inherent narcissism and the inability to have simple conversations with peers and the loss of not understanding the proper balance in a mentor/boss and student/employee relationship.
[Lloyd, Dean, & Cooper, p. 484]

A text is informal as well as completely unintimate. Also, it is incredibly hard to understand the meaning of what someone is saying without facial expression or vocal tone to accompany it.

[Audra Jones]

This inability to communicate can become compounded as students move into the chronological time of their lives when dating and intimate relationships begin to move to their priority list. Zoe O' Donoghue, believes a change has occurred in the way modern relationships develop. Social media allows relationships to begin as simple virtual friendship centered around a neutral and safe topic or out of some narcissistic need to expose and talk about oneself. These unhealthy transactions are not a solid foundation for any relationship. It takes time spent face-to-face getting to know each other and about each other to bring closeness, depth, and real meaning to any relationship.
[O'Donoghue p. 10]

Family Relations Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies did a study, "I luv u:)!": A Descriptive Study of the Media Use of Individuals in Romantic Relationships in April 2011 and asked individuals, "Why they preferred cell phone conversations and text messaging over other forms of communication".

Respondents felt social media devices:

• allowed multiple simultaneous conversations.
• gave time to process before responding.
• provided time to formulate a response.

However the study discovered:

• leaves room for potential "misunderstanding".
• it lacks tone and facial expression.
• the clarity of the message may be loss.

Article Concludes

"It is possible that new communication technologies are inherently prone to misunderstandings because they do not contain these vital nonverbal aspects."
[Coyne, et al., pp. 151-152]

There used to be a time where people wanted to be together so much, there was little time left for "other conversations". Occasionally, my husband and I take trips. The radio is turned off in the car, cell phones and either turned off or thrown in the armrest between he seats, and maps have been studied to plot out the route we will take across country. The trip is about us and the value we share. It is not about "connecting" with each other or we have allowed our gadgets to come in and take the place of our roles in a meaningful marriage.

It is a time away from the kids, which we did not Tweet to get. It is a time to discuss where we are and our next set of goals, which doesn't belong on Facebook. It is a time for us to slow down and reevaluate the roles we are moving into and best to communicate those and keep each other moving in the direction we need to go. It is a time for us to look into each others eyes, see the person for who they are, and to reflect back on all the hard times we grew through and the good times we enjoyed.

We don't need social media to communicate, as we are always available to one another - and settle for nothing less.