If you're a student, then it probably comes us no to surprise to you to learn that most students can't live without social media links like laptops and cell phones.

In a new study titled, '24 Hours: Unplugged,' from the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland, 200 students at the College Park campus were asked to avoid all media for one day.

They were asked to write about their experience the next day.

The 200 students wrote more than 110,000 words, which is about the same number of words as a 400-page novel.

"We were surprised by how many students admitted that they were 'incredibly addicted' to media," project director Susan Moeller said.

"But we noticed that what they wrote at length about was how they hated losing their personal connections. Going without media meant, in their world, going without their friends and family.

"The students did complain about how boring it was go anywhere and do anything without being plugged into music on their MP3 players. And many commented that it was almost impossible to avoid the TVs on in the background at all times in their friends' rooms.

"But what they spoke about in the strongest terms was how their lack of access to text messaging, phone calling, instant messaging, email and Facebook, meant that they couldn't connect with friends who lived close by, much less those far away."

One student gave the feedback: "Texting and IM-ing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort. When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life.

"Although I go to a school with thousands of students, the fact that I was not able to communicate with anyone via technology was almost unbearable."

Wow.  Unbearable even!  What do you think?  Are we too dependent on social media?