They are very few secrets any more.

People can and do post just about any information they want to on the Internet.

Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can keep us current on the lives of friends and strangers.

Five years ago, we could only imagine what our friends might be doing. Now, with their own electronic device, they can give us instantaneous updates on their love lives, sorrows, odd thoughts or other details. It is the “or other details” that may be unnecessary.

I admit to being linked to a couple-hundred others through social media.

This, in a 10 minute period recently, is what I learned: One person is having fondue for dinner, another talked her husband into making a raspberry martini, two people are now fans of Lady Gaga, and someone’s dog has a stomachache.

While I really did not need to know these things, the exchange of information binds us together.

Not to be outdone, I posted a link to one of these columns so people could have a good laugh and boost my Internet statistics. Web hits are like crystal meth to me. The more I get, the more I want.

Indeed, it may all be an addiction. In the age of instant communication, we do not really communicate. Our time is taken up with texting rather than stopping by for a visit.

It is easy to get hooked on the social media process. While I do not care for games or questionnaires, I am interested in the evolution of people’s lives.

An example is a Facebook post that reads: “Going to mom and dad’s for dinner.” I know that the person is single, but now could assume he does not have a significant other, as it would more likely read “We are going …” if he did.

Next, as he posts this often it is clear that his parents either think he is lonely or cannot cook.

I have never seen a post that says, “Mom and dad are coming to dinner.” This post would change my assumptions.

The final piece to this puzzle is learning the new language. “u c the new q t? lmao at him btw idk his name.” This is the beginning of a meaningful dialogue. Lol.

• Mike McLellan can be contacted by calling and leaving a message at 830-4231 or e-mailing him at DrMikeM@sbcglobal.net.