[img_r]http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/01/03/art.bberry.jpg[/img_r]"The year we stopped talking to one another."

That's what USA Today dubs 2010, in light of the unprecedented use of technology.

We are awash in technology. It's estimated that 93% of Americans now use cell phones or wireless devices. And one-third of those people are using so-called smartphones, which means the users can browse the Web and check e-mail on their phones.

According to an industry trade group, from June 2009 to June 2010, cell phone subscribers sent 1.8 trillion text messages. That was up 33% from the year before.

In other words, most of us spend our days walking around with our noses buried in our cell phones, BlackBerrys, iPhones, etc.

And while we're doing that, we're tuning out the people who are actually in the same room as us. We seem to have long ago crossed the line as to where doing this stuff is appropriate - people take calls while they're out to dinner, text or check e-mail while on a date, you name it.

Some experts say it's time to take a step back and reassess. They're reminding people that technology can be turned off, and that it's important to connect with people in person. They worry that kids won't know what it's like to share a story or actually look someone in the eyes. And that's sad.

But others point out the benefits of all this technology - staying in touch with friends and family, efficiently using time once spent doing nothing and being able to check in from anywhere.

Heres my question to you: At what cost has technology replaced personal interactions?

Tune in to the Situation Room at 6pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.

And, we love to know where youre writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.

But others point out the benefits of all this technology - staying in touch with friends and family, efficiently using time once spent doing nothing and being able to check in from anywhere.

took the boys to toys r us yesterday to use their gift cards from christmas. i was astounded by the number of mom's who were on their phones completely ignoring their kids. to me, being at toys r us with the kids is all about fun & being together...not ignoring them.

"4PackGirl" wrote:

(I mean, 8-year-olds with cell phones . . . seriously?). Reason enough for me to decide that my kids aren't getting phones until they can pay for them themselves.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

Keiana (9 years old) has a phone. It has 60 minutes on it, restricted to calling me, her mom, grandma and uncle.

I don't see a problem with that.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:

It's not just the parents, 4PackGirl. Hardly a day goes by I don't see teens and even preteens immersed in their damn cell phones and ignoring their parents (I mean, 8-year-olds with cell phones . . . seriously?). Reason enough for me to decide that my kids aren't getting phones until they can pay for them themselves.

It amazes me when I go to bars or clubs to see entire tables of people not talking or dancing but texting. If you ask them what's up, the standard answer is, "We're waiting." Even if it's almost bar time, that's still the answer. "We're waiting." Waiting for what, nobody knows, because they're all immersed in their electronic universe instead of interacting with each other.

It astounds me even more to watch boyfriends and girlfriends -- husbands and wives! -- out on dates, completely ignoring each other. The other day, I walked up to a pair of girls in my university's coffee shop, who were sitting at a table, looking bored and texting, and I said, "This is exactly the problem I have with our modern culture. Here we have two friends who instead of talking to each other are texting other people!" Instead of giving me guff, as I expected, they laughed and admitted I was right.

That's what puzzles me about this modern phenomenon. Everyone I've brought it up with complains about it and deplores out isolating it is and how lonely they feel, yet everyone seems to keep doing it anyway. I've actually had girls admit to me that when they're walking down the sidewalk chattering on their phones, there's often no one on the other end -- they're just doing it so it looks like they have a social life and no one thinks they're uncool. (Because, you know, it would be humiliating to turn to the person walking next to you and say something like, um, "Hi, what's your name?")

Well, I've stopped putting up with it. If I'm hanging out time someone and they spend any significant amount of time on their cell phone instead of talking to me, I don't invite them back.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote: