DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my friends can be inconsiderate sometimes. I'll text him about meeting up a few days in advance, and he tells me he will get back to me but never does. I'm going away on a trip in a couple of days, and I won't be able to see him before he leaves for college. I'm annoyed that he didn't get back to me about saying goodbye but still had the time to randomly follow me on Instagram. How can I address this issue with him without seeming overdramatic? -- Longing for My Friend, Westchester, New York
DEAR LONGING FOR MY FRIEND: You are witnessing a terrible downside to social media. In the company of one's own personal space on one's own time, a person can engage others -- sort of -- by the click of a button without having to take the time to actually communicate one-on-one. Social media can be useful, but when it turns into what can seem like either a distraction much like a video game or a substitute for human interaction, it can turn into a problem.
People still want personal engagement. What you may want to do is use social media to make that point to your friend. Tell him via Instagram that you miss him and that your feelings are hurt that he has been MIA. This may be the way he hears right now.