The Distractions of Social Media...1673 Style

You hear many people bemoan how much time is 'wasted' on social media sites, preventing people from getting 'real' work done. Guess what? It ain't new! In the 17th Century it was coffee houses. Here's a link to an interesting article, an extract from a forthcoming book on the prehistory of social media...written by Tom Standage.

Tom Standage is digital editor at The Economist, overseeing the magazine’s website, Economist.com, and its smartphone, tablet and e-reader editions. He is the author numerous books including The Victorian Internet, A History of the World in Six Glasses, and The Turk.