On Monday, November 30, at 1:37pm, Jamie Ortega updated her Facebook status to say "just about everything can be accomplished online." And although someone responded with a comment saying, "no textures. no scents," Ortega and her Facebook status have the right idea: computers can only provide visual and auditory stimulation. But in today's society, with Generation Y nipping at the heels of technological advancements, computers may not be as limited in a few years' time.

Just about everything can be accomplished online--markets provide grocery shopping services. Most retail stores are accessible online as well, and while it is preferable for some to try clothes or shoes on before making the purchase, it is much more convenient for someone "on the go" to order directly from their smart phone.

People can see what all of their friends are up to on any given day or night based on their Twitter updates, fitting their plans into 140 characters or less rather than having to call or text everyone individually. And according to television and website advertisements, you might even find your soul mate with the help of one of the many internet compatibility and dating services. There is no need to leave your house to meet a perfect stranger.

Mind you, this is old news. But it is important to understand that this new way of life has developed into what some might call a crutch. Where did the simple pleasures of snail mail and slow dancing disappear to? And what do future generations have to hold on to for staying grounded?

Lisa Fernandez, an online marketing major at San Francisco State University, shines light on the fact that she almost feels forced to keep up with her friends via the internet, because sometimes her busy lifestyle of work and school will not allow her to keep in touch in person.

"It's basically like my arm," Fernandez says with a smile, referring to her Blackberry. She continues to explain that with email, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace applications installed in her phone, it is virtually impossible to escape the internet.

She, along with the majority of students on campus, is part of Generation Y, recently coined "The Millennials." It is a generation made up of people born and raised in the eighties and nineties. Researchers, baby boomers, and ad agencies are well aware that the people that make up this generation are in fact the future. With technical skills, vast internet knowledge, and social networking media at their fingertips, the Millennials have become a force to be reckoned with.

As Fernandez prepares to graduate in the spring, she thinks of all the options she has when entering the workforce. Striving to work for an ad agency herself, she predicts the ability to narrow down target markets just by understanding social networking media. "People practically tell you what they're doing, where they are, and who they're with at any given moment on these types of websites. Soon there won't be a need for market research," she further explains.

Can this age of information overload be considered excessive or just natural progression and advancement? Jeorge Jordan, a web designer and blogger, thinks it is a little bit of both. "Information-wise, you can't beat the web. It's available and easy," he says.

The other side of the spectrum, according to Jordan, is harmful and even addictive - like smoking. "You stop, and it's easy. But in the end you're surrounded by everyone who smokes, and it's not so easy anymore," he explains, comparing the ability to stay connected in the cyber world with the hard-to-break habit. It is easy to think that society is moving in an impersonal direction, to the point where a text message with a smiley face will suffice over a hug. We're all guilty of resorting to the easy way out.

We update our status on Facebook, and fit our day into 140 characters or less on Twitter. We email people within seconds at our convenience, rather than taking the time to physically write a letter and put it in the mail - so what? Please say this is not taking the place of actually sitting down and having a conversation over a cup of coffee or picking up the newspaper and indulging in global news.

The internet has become both a blessing and a curse.[X]