Barbershop Buzz: Is social media taking over?

Barbershop Buzz: Is social media taking over?

A new form of communication today has emerged with the various social media platforms. Information is readily available on the Internet and spreads almost instantaneously to blogs and newspaper headlines. From You Tube to Facebook and Twitter, celebrities and politicians have made these social networks the hub for personal interaction with the public. President Obama recently said that during the 2012 campaign, he would "personally update his Facebook and Twitter":http://www.thegrio.com/politics/can-obama-keep-his-cool-on-twitter.php accounts daily. Though interacting with the public has exposed some public figures to support, it has also landed many in hot water. Any accidental mistake, misspelling or miscommunication could result in a controversial situation, only expected to grow. Cognizant of its cautions though, several public figures have embraced their social media accounts, allowing them to connect with their thousands or millions of followers, in a way they could never before. Whether it is "Shaquille O' Neal making his first retirement announcement":http://www.thegrio.com/sports/shaquille-oneal-says-on-twitter-hes-about-to-retire.php on his Twitter account or Pope Benedict XVI tweeting for the first time this past week, social media seems to be becoming a widespread practice by everyone. What is unclear though is whether social media is having an effect on personal relationships, and whether it is actually necessary for public figures to devote time to them. We stopped by the barbershop to weigh in on what they thought.