slave to social media

As a writer people watching is one of my most valuable tools. In recent years I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in the way character development.
Character requires independent thought and self development. The desire to explore ones boundaries and reach beyond them.
Thanks to social media sites it’s now possible to have 24-7 cyber hand holding. Never again do people have to make an independent decision.
But what effect will this have in the long term. Are we turning in to a world of mindless clones?
Cults and certain political ideals prosper using perpetual social grooming propaganda. Is Facebook, twitter and their fellow sites any different? Are we becoming the inmates of a global cyber cult?