On Saturday the 9th of May channel 10 broadcast a Melbourne Comedy Festival debate asking the question “is social media antisocial”. Sara Pasco and Katherine Ryan although on opposing teams both took the same angle that, yes social media is antisocial but that is a good thing. Both comedians talked about the benefits of not having to deal with your friends in real life. The internet draws an imaginary wall that allows you to insert another degree of separation between yourself and your friends. If someone inboxes you your are not required to respond to them instantly as you would be with a phone or face to face conversation. You can have the time to consider what someone is saying before replying. You are no longer required to remember friends birthdays because Facebook will helpfully remind you. You are no longer required to make an effort to get dressed, put on makeup, make yourself presentable, travel to a destination to meet your friend and risk exposure to certain environmental elements such as the wind and rain which could possibly make you sick. Now you can interact with your friends via various online multiplayer games. FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR VERY OWN BED. When your friends make statuses on the tragedies or triumphs of their lives you will be informed about these milestone events without having to demonstrate a false façade of empathy for their situation. In your own time you can inbox them with messages of consolation or congratulation without trying to maintain appropriate facial expressions. Your happy, your fulfilling your duties as a friend and your friends are also reaping the rewards. It’s a win – win. Yes social media can be antisocial but is that really such a bad thing.