My name is Tom Swift and I approve this message.

A recent study indicates that empathy for others is in decline. The study, conducted by the Michigan University Institute for Social Research, looked at 72 other studies that measured empathy among 14,000 college students. Sara Konrath, a researcher at the institute, said that empathy has been declining precipitously since 2000.

What is causing the decline? Almost certainly, no single thing. But social media is a difficult-to-ignore factor. A college student involved in collecting data for the study told USA Today about how much time his peers on campus spend texting, maintaining Facebook/MySpace pages, and doing whatever it is one does on Twitter rather than spending time with one another. (Note to my broker: sell Budweiser stock, all of it, now!) So much of human communication comes through non-verbal means. Seeing another person’s wall photos is simply not the same as observing his or her inflection and body language in real time.

The beauty of social media is that one can find and befriend people quickly. (You like tomato sandwiches on toast? Me too!) But this also tends to cordon off people based on like-mindedness. If you’re only connecting with those who already agree with you that government is evil or all Yankees fans are heartless (and you may have a point on that last one), you’re less frequently exposed to those with whom you disagree and more likely to see people as residing in wholly separate categories from your own.

I am sympathetic to that take. (Though I am also allergic to small talk, which is apparently part of every social gathering — however personally tailored or philanthropically fashioned that gathering — on the planet.) Yet, I am also dubious that empathy’s decline is attributable to any one factor.

I find the observation that empathy began its descent in 2000 — well before you poked your first Facebook “friend” — interesting. People entering college in 2000 would have been born in or about 1982, not long after the country elected the Moses of Greedy White Men. Again, no one thing, but the country in recent decades has decidedly shifted rightward, become more individualist, and less inclined to embrace social causes. We went at least 28 years before electing a liberal president — even if you count Al Gore (and I don’t think you can count President Obama, but that’s another post). Society generally and parents specifically espouse the view that what is important is to “get ahead” and make oneself “marketable.” Most valued is financial, not human, capital. I am sure it happens, but how often do you hear a beaming parent at a graduation party declare, “We’re so happy Jordan has chosen the Peace Corps. For a minute there, we thought he might go to Wharton!”

The thing that strikes me about social media is how quickly it became ubiquitous. Nearly every product I consume, and certainly every web site I visit, has a “Find us on Facebook” and “Follow us on Twitter” disclaimers. Users call it social media but it seems more like self-promotional media. After all, how many individuals use Facebook or Twitter to promote themselves versus making a genuine attempt to enhance relationships or stay connected with close friends? The answer is unknowable and at the same time, we’re certainly not talking about a small minority here.

Of course, I am not exactly etching this ramble into sheepskin and posting it on a tree in the town square. And if you want to link to it on your Facebook page, bully for me. It’s no coincidence, either, that this very web site launched within months of a certain book’s publication date. Indeed, you’d have to fight me — and two of the toughest 12-pound dogs you’ve ever met — if you showed up to take away my laptop’s AirPort card. Yes, by all means, I am less than consistent (you don’t know the half of it). But I still find the Michigan study raises an instructive question.

“Empathy is best activated,” Konrath said, “when you can see another person’s signal for help.”

Sometimes that signal comes in fewer 151 characters. But not always.

What? You finally learned how to use your cell phone or something?

Bigger.

You don’t mean to tell me you broke down and ate a piece of chocolate cake?

I’m serious here.

OK, what did you do — mess up Justin Bieber’s hair? Go see “Sex and the City”? Join a book-burning club?

I quit Facebook.

Look, I’m in no mood for your jokes. You know I’m still dealing with the loss of “Lost” …

I did it.

No.

For real.

You didn’t.

I deactivated my account on Monday.

Just like that?

Poof!

My God. I didn’t even know that was possible …

And you want to know the strangest part?

Strangest? I’m not sure I’m ready to hear–

I actually feel OK.

You do?

It’s funny, but, yeah.

How much medication are you taking?

No more than the usual.

Counseling? Electro-shock therapy?

My room is still unpadded.

But why, man? Why! Oh, I bet you’re one of those privacy protesters I heard about on Twitter.

Have you ever known me to act on principle before?

That’s true—

Besides, who would want the graffiti that was on my wall?

Are you kidding? There was that link you posted about the guy who played the kazoo–

Harmonica–

Right, harmonica, through his right nostril. I mean, you had some racy stuff up there.

Trust me. I am not waging a campaign.

But there must be some reason–people don’t just up and–

It wasn’t working for me, brother.

Wasn’t working for you? Wasn’t working for you! What in the hell does that mean?

I just decided to do something different.

Something different? Holy–give me a minute here–let me see if I can wrap my mind around this–

Yeah, I … um … I started scribbling on my blog instead.

Your blog? What is this, 2004?

That’s right, brother. I’m going old school.

School? Asylum is more like it. Is this change, like, you know, forever?

Well, we’ll see. I do reserve the right to become a hypocrite.

Like that needs saying–

For now, I’m just taking it one post at a time.

But don’t you know what this means? This means we won’t be friends any more …

Can’t we still be friends in the physical world?

You mean like see each other in person and all that stuff?

Something like that.

For the love of Steve Jobs … I need to sit down.