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I thought getting my newest smartphone would help keep me more connected. I could now keep better contact with Facebook, twitter and all my online groups but the more I got sucked in to the pinning and updating and photo sharing I realized that I was more into my phone screen and the updates on there than with the people that were sitting right in the room with me.

I didn't completely tune out those around me when I heard a tweet from my phone but I did tend to swipe my finger across the screen to see who the email was from when I heard my email tone "It's so fluffy" (Agnes from Despicable Me). Sure my smartphone keeps me connected to my online friends and associates but I also take time to hit the power button and play games with my boys or watch some tv with Daddy B. I do have rules for myself with my phone. There are no phone calls or messages while we are eating. Table time is for the 4 of us enjoying our meal and talking about our day. The emails and calls can wait.

Yes we can enjoy all our Facebook fans and twitter followers and the hours we (I) can spend pinning on Pinterest all from the smartphone but don't let it take away from the connections you have or may be missing out on with those sitting beside you right now.

I'm torn and working on getting a balance of online and offline connections. I use my phone to keep me in communication with companies that I have worked hard to build connections and relationships with but can't risk making Daddy B mad by not paying attention to him when he's trying to talk to me while I am reading emails. I'm after the happy medium, best of both worlds.

How do you feel about the use of smartphones for social connections? Do you think they put us more in or out of touch with our relationships?

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