it's definitely a question worth exploring. Someone below commented that social skills need as much practice as any other skillset and that without it, they'll wither away. (thanks, smartienon!) I think that's part of it--but the personal drive to be social outside of the internet also has to be there to an extent. I'm personally technologically ambivalent; I don't enjoy sitting at my computer for hours and hours (and yet am an rper look not everything needs to make sense okay) but for people who do, I could see how they could lose touch with social interaction outside the funbox. (that's your modem. i explained the joke.)

this could make a very interesting academic paper.