3 Ways New Technology Is Changing The Holidays

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, marking another year gone by and the beginning of the holiday season. 

We have a whole tray of things to be thankful for - and family is normally at the top of the list. 

In 2012, however, the way we interact with our families is very different. Smartphones, social networks and more are changing the way we celebrate our holidays. 

Here are three ways these new technologies change our holidays. Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments section! 

1. Shop, Shop, Shop

Black Friday has been a fixture in our culture for a while now. People wait in endless lines on a cold, New England night for discounted items that they desperately need. An article on Business2Community.com noted that, "Google estimates that four out of five shoppers will use their smartphones and tablets for 'comparing prices, locating nearby stores, and searching for coupons' during the 2012 holiday season."

2. Not-So-Distant Relatives

One of the major plights of the holidays has always been getting everyone under one roof. Distant relatives on the West Coast or down in Florida can't always make the trip, and a simple phone call was the extend of interaction we could have.

Now, we have Facebook, Skype, iPhone FaceTime, Twitter, YouTube, and seemingly countless other ways to keep in touch. 

3. Turkey Day Traditions

As consistent as the turkey and stuffing itself, Wilmington vs. Tewksbury is a tried and true part of Thanksgiving Day.

This year, will you be taking pictures, sharing information and opinions about the game? Gone are the days of waiting for next week's newspaper for analysis on the game. Everything is instant now. And you are the journalist.

From all of us here at Grow Socially, we would like to wish all of our Wilmington neighbors a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.