This is a very interesting question. I believe that the internet does both, isolate people and foster more interactions, to an extent. It isolates people because part of holding conversations is the body language that each person exhibits. When you are on the Internet you do not experience all of the conversation by not seeing the body language. However, it also fosters more interactions. I have friends who have moved across the country and the only way that I am able to stay in contact with them is via the Internet (facebook, e-mail, skype). If these were not available, I probably would have lost all contact with some of my closest friends because being able to interact would be virtually impossible. When my friends are in town we make a point to get together and spend time with each other doing things such as having a meal together or shopping, something that has limited outside contact so we can spend time with just each other. Although only having conversations via the Internet does isolate people from real personal interactions, it does also foster connections that were met in person.
The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom.
~Jon Stewart
A thoughtful response.
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