From your posting, I take it you've been around the block like myself (no disrespect if you're not 'old' old). I think it's a generational thing. People in their teens, 20's and some 30's are not so reluctant to post their lives online (and there was an article circulating HN to back my statement - just cant recall it now). Anyways, I'm an old fart, in the sense that I hate to submit personal data online; online banking still scares me; and I've never adopted/accepted nor am I a fan of FB or Twitter. Dont get me wrong, there are advantages to social media, but like you said (and others here) - it lacks the "social", as in companionship and real-time interaction with others. The startup, Shaker, is a step in the right direction, but I remain weary of posting personal things online. If personal information were kept 'personal' and not reside in a server 'out there', I would be more inclined to participate. Wouldn't you? In such a scenario, all end-users would control their personal info and not have to worry about 3rd parties intruding into my personal info, ID theft, privacy issues and the like. C'est la vie. That's the infrastructure that we've been given. But then there is this 'vacuum' you spoke of...the current platforms are just not set up to foster/simulate a social environment as in the real world...but they will have to do for now.