Cruising around Atlantic Europe you are also connected to the 3/4G network with internet the majority of time. The AIS is constantly sending out your position easily picked up by any landlubber on a dedicated app like Marinetraffic

In many ways this can make life easier (Mercedes for example is dependent on internet for her work) but there are also backsides. Most cruisers are active on social media today (I´m probably one of the few who is not) which means life onboard your boat is more or less transparent for the rest of the cruisingworld. The good thing is that you can get good advise when you ASK for it, but there are also loads of "wiseguys" who have opinions on everything you do. 

Running with the current down river Elbe in Germany in 9,4kts Mercedes got a correction on her Facebook that our speed was 9,2kts according to Marinetraffic.

People have opinions on your routes,how you fish, how you anchor from an environmental perspective (dont bring up seaweed with your anchor) and the list goes on.

These are mostly people having opinions from a safe seat behind their desks at home with no idea of your situation out there in reality. Experienced cruisers are normally very humble and helpful people (the same goes for most fishermen I have met who are brought up by the reality of the sea).

From a satelliteperspective I fear that social media is leading to hell. By deliberately high jacking the reward system (dopamin) of the human brain the tech giants have made many of us dependent on the smartphone (just look around you walking the streets or an airport), and doubtless we have never lived in a more narcissistic time .

The link between social media and increasing frequency of depressions among young people is significant and one very famous professor in neuropsychiatry from Cambridge calls this "The biggest experiment in history of mankind and we have no idea of where it`s going to end" . A recommendation is to see the film "The Social Dilemma"

From a local perspective social media can have many benefits. Mercedes is active on Facebook and a much appreciated blue water cruiser and circumnavigator.

All over Europe and especially Galicia,people contact her when we are passing with Dora Mac to have a chat,get advise or to meet.

Being anchored in Isla Cies José and his friends from Baiona passed by Dora Mac to have a coffee and meet Mercedes in real This happens regularly which is nice,but sometimes it`s also great to just be on your own