I'll be honest with you; I'm a techie. I'm enamored with cutting edge applications that download streams of information in real-time. My iPhone 3GS and my desktop keep me in constant sync with the world of Internet communication.
That said, I believe that the most important function of "social media" is to create space for the voices of "Main Street" Americans and members of the global community at large. No longer is public communication strictly the province of professionals; anyone with a few minutes and a few dollars can connect and share. To be sure, this situation poses some challenges—but I am convinced that the benefits of these new technologies outweigh their disadvantages. I am excited to be alive and linked in to Web 2.0.