if they were taken away right now people would fall to mass chaos and confusion and resort to form a hourly gathering in a place in the city and chat, discuss recent events and argue to no end.
funny fact, the word "forum" is from a place that was in ancient roman cities where people would meet to talk, announcers there would announce taxes or news and such and people would just find someone to talk to and talk. internet has only given us high speed, organized communication has been here forever.