There is a theory which can be relevant to this phenomenon its "time displacement theory"

family bond is broken because of the excessive use of communication technologies and it is ultimately leading the users towards loneliness in real sense.

True... Our elders that include our parents and grandparents, they are not familiar with the new media and gadgets, neither can they participate in our activities and not can they access the new media, so they feel left out.

For those willing to learn, we should get them familiarised with the usage of new media.

There is a theory which can be relevant to this phenomenon its "time displacement theory"

family bond is broken because of the excessive use of communication technologies and it is ultimately leading the users towards loneliness in real sense.

Yes lonliness is there but you find it where economic status is high specially in those families who can afford to buy new gadgets.

I would support Sahifa's view.

New technologies allow to have friends accross the whole world, realize all dreams and preventing to get older (virtual worlds with graphical interface). Implemented translators allow even to overcome language barrier with some limits.

Which, in turn, might result in the loss of ability to communicate with family, neighbors, friends from real life etc. We used term "chat addict" for that.

I agree with Tomy Patzelt. But also I have the reflection that new media give us so much possibilities that afterall we do not know what to choose. Having 50 profiles on various social networks, 100 chats will not make us happier. In my opinion nothing will substitute real contact with friends or family. Facebook is very funny, but when something bad happens it will not hug you ;(

It is because of new media that we are here talking. The questions/ answers from people all around stay with us whole the day. Are we alone? we have personified the words even.

TY Anna for your agreement and especially for female's insight on the issue.

Bur back to initial question, new media can have severe inpact both on imagination and the ability to express thoughts generally. It is similar to reading of books and watching TV. Reading of books forces to include imagination in order to convert written description into story. Watching of TV allows to be consumer only without any thinking because the whole story is provided by graphics.

What I noticed during years in virtual worlds is slowly decreasing ability to chat even there. Currently some people arent able to type sentence consisting of more than three words. The reason why I left Yahoo chats was that it turned into listening of music (which was fine) and exchange of rows full of smileys (which I found boring).

If you take into consideration that some applications allow people (or their avis) to communicate on the basis of predefined sentences without any direct human involvement, the result might be rather disastrous. If somebody gets used to this "comfort", he/she will be lonely even if present in some wild party. Simply because it is not possible to start and mantain communication on the basis of sentences such as "Oh!", "Really?", "I see" etc.

Media allows us to sit alone and have superficial exchanges with other virtual people. Without face to face interaction, social animals become increasing isolated from one another. Internet porn is a perfect example of this. A man can easily interact with a virtual image without having to act out the social dance necessary to attract and woo a woman to get sex. He need only type in a site name buy a tube of lube. unfortunately, the ease with which he is able to interact with virtual sex partners makes real personal interaction more cumbersome, difficult and unattractive. He begins to choose his virtual world over the real world because it is simply easier and he gets the same brain chemical reward without any of the rejection or work necessary in the real world. He can even take on a fake persona and live in the safety of anonymity. All of this isolates a human being from society, and can lead to addiction to media or Internet porn.

Likewise, our reliance on texting as a quick and noncommital way to communicate with anyone within reach of a cell phone tower isolates us because we no longer have to exchange nicities or engage in the social lubrication of polite conversation. it is the act of being present with other human beings and seeing them and sympathizing with their social position as we see them before us that brings us together as a cohesive group. Superficial social interaction, spurred on by the new media keeps humans from having meaningful discourse that brings people together for common good. The new media is particularly self serving and isolationist in nature and by design.

Please allow me to add some comments on virtual worlds based on long-time experience. What I typed above, is general description of trends, not complete analysis, if something like that is ever possible.

Virtual worlds are neither good nor bad, because they are just a tool, the same like kitchen knife can be either helful tool or deadly weapon.

Not to mentioned other possibilities as building, desings etc. they can serve as a simulator of communication, where it is possible to learn how to communicate which allows to use gained knowledge in real world too.

I remenber the case of lady who came into virtual world after several years of loneliness firmly determined to learn how to communicate. And believe me it or not, she managed that in just three months, which we spent mostly by dancing, chatting and laughing. Then she found boyfriend in real life and left virtual world forever.

And I must say I was extremely proud of her.

Amir and Tommy you are absolutely right, new media does not let us to live alone. We are communicating with each other and this is just possible due to new media technologies. In addition Sahifa's point of view of Time Displacement theory cant be ignored, but cant we take this perspective in a direction that we can have communication ties with a person who is sitting in another part of the world irrespective of time and space and new media or virtual world has made it possible.

Please consider the differences between introverts and extroverts.  Loneliness may be a problem for an extrovert but not for a introvert. Introverts do not feel that it is a problem to NOT be around other people  :-)