You think it's a big part but you are in fact making that personal connection weaker.
At the very most in the world technology, email would suffice for your family.
Most of the elders in my family - talking people 65+ - have computers, use Facebook, to keep in touch. Most of my mother's _friends_ are on Facebook for that matter. They do appreciate a phone call, but for grand-baby pictures and video, that's where the action is.
My mother is the exception. At the age of 70, she's never touched a computer. She likely never will.
Anyway - my point is that my family is not exceptional, nor especially early-adopting. We're pretty typical Americans, I think.
by the way; phones and postal mail still use technology.