It has become so much a part of daily life that it has added to our language, changed our daily routines and – arguably – rewired our brains. It’s as if our smartphones are connected to our hands while we stare into the screen, wondering and hoping for the next text, update or email.  Shoot – even email seems quaint nowadays. There are new ways to describe friends who aren’t, uh, really friends (facebook friends) and news comes in 140 character blips. We’ve even discovered that we can become “mayors” of our favorite haunts with just a click of a button. As with most anything, the beauty of the digital world is in the simplicity of its value: it connects us to people and information in a convenient way that fits nicely into the hustle and bustle of life. As a result we’ve grown close to people long left behind, made new friends and expanded our circle of influence.

Shoot, we’re probably better informed now than ever. You too probably spent at least a lunch break staring at the live feed of the Gulf of Mexico geyser, eh?

It’s all just as wonderful as chocolate cream pie. And, like that pie, too much digital can be easy to consume. Consider, for example, that 40 percent of Facebook users regularly play social games — and you can bet that the number of new services, games and aps will grow thicker than fleas on a swamp rabbit. Problem is, with so much to do – so much pie to eat – it’s up to you to keep your digital diet lean. You can do that by remembering that all of these new companies want just one thing: you. That means your eyeballs, your time, your information (especially) and eventually your click on an ad or your pocket money. It’s up to you to make sure that all of these new distractions fit into the pattern of your digital life and, in some way, improve your real life. So before you jump into the next cool social gadget, download that ap or sign up for a new aggregation service, ask yourself these five questions:

1. Does it fit in your hand? From Facebook to Twitter and Foursquare, all must use mobile computing as a primary platform. That’s right: even Facebook. Consider the importance of the latest Android Facebook Application in improving the experience of Facebookers. Ensuring that the best-selling mobile phone offers a decent experience is more important to Facebook execs than making sure their privacy language makes sense. Sure,laptops are great to engage on a deeper level, but answer this one question: how many times do you update your status via mobile?

2. Is it easy to use? It simply must be simple to use. Take geo-location services such as foursquare: being able to notify your friends as to your location – in essence bridging the gap between the digital you and the real you – has simple benefits that improve your life. But it has to be easy, otherwise, no go.
3. Does it integrate well with your existing social hangouts? We’re captive to our communities and to our habits, so anything new must integrate into our existing services. Currently, for example, social gaming is huge because it enables us to play a simple game with others like us. This desire to share and collaborate powers digital like an ever-churning engine, and any new toy should help to keep it rolling.

4. How does it make money? This is important because digital businesses really aren’t philanthropic organizations. Eventually that IPO is going to come calling, and they’ll come a’ knocking for more of your personal information. You have a right to know what they plan to do with it, how they plan to use it to buy those big mansions, and you have a right to expect clear and simple privacy protection.

5. Is it fun? And useful? Of course it’s fun – it’s digital! But really, is it fun enough to take up your latte time, or consume you during today’s new version of the old smoke break: the social break? Once again, consider the games so prevalent on Facebook today: Games like Farmville are popular because it keeps the fun coming through a mix of connectivity, content and a hook that always keeps you coming back for more. Add to that the reward you get from investing your time and personal information.
In general, anything worth investing your increasingly limited time must fit with the habits of your life. We are, in the end, a generation of skimmers and snackers, multi-taskers and quick thinkers. And as our digital life continues to shape our real, um, offline life, the tools and treats you use must provide a solid foundation of security, connectivity and reward.