Has social media gone a step too far?

According to Ralph Reigel of The Herald, a senior judge has warned that the court system is now being plagued by social media.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain warned a Circuit Criminal Court jury to stay off the internet and away from social media sites at the opening of an indecent assault trial.
You can read the full article here.

I don't know if I could stay off all social media sites for the duration of a criminal trial. Even to pick up your emails there is a possibility that you will see something you shouldn't in relation to the trial.
Have we taken social media to a new level? Has social media become more important than physical contact with our friends/neighbours? Do we put too much effort into our "social media selves" as opposed to our real selves?

Could we see something on a social media site like Facebook that would genuinely change our minds on how to vote at a trial?

According to the 2012 Neilsen Report, there is a mix of emotions associated with the use of social media. Initially it was thought that there was positive emotions in using social media but on further investigation it showed a number of negative emotions like jealousy, anger and sadness. It also showed that the negative emotions outweigh the positive emotions in both weight and occurrence.

Maybe, Judge Sean O Donnabhain was correct in what he directed the jury to do. In a very emotive case it is prudent to keep the jury away from all social media as negativity rules.

Bring back sequestering I hear you say!!