How did we spend those daily 30 minutes of Facebook time before there was a Facebook?

An essay by Neil Postman published in 1998 entitled "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change" is just as relevant today as it was when it was published over 10 years ago. In fact, the concerns Neil brought up years ago are huge issues that Internet and computer users should be aware of even today. Of the five issues brought up by Neil, the first issue is particularly important to consider as society continues to become deeply imbued in Internet connectivity and social networking. Neil mentions that all new technology brings with it both advantages and corresponding disadvantages. As users of the Internet and social networks, we need to keep in mind that the benefits social networking brings to our lives also bring negative trade-offs. These trade-offs are likely never considered by users of social networks. Think about this: Before people started spending minutes or even hours out of their daily routine updating their Facebook and Twitter accounts, people used that time for other activities. By participating in Facebook and other social networks, people lose out on that time to potentially do more productive activities. Some users obsess over their image on the Internet that they fail to continue to develop their various talents because their time is spent tinkering with their social networks. The trade-offs that social networks bring to our lives are real, and vary from person to person. Think hard and try to identify things in your life that have gone missing since you started participating in social networks. I'm positive that you will find something. Are you happy with this loss?  Personally, I've lost my novel reading time to Facebook. I'm not happy with this, and I bet you won't be happy with what you realize you've lost either.