A psychologist is urging people to get off Facebook and other social networking sites, and get a life instead.

Dr Aric Sigman says the amount of time we spend with each other has slumped dramatically and in turn is damaging our health.

He says our devotion to such sites could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone levels, and the function of arteries, and influence mental performance.

Levels of hormones such as the "cuddle chemical" oxytocin, which promotes bonding, altered according to whether people were in close contact or not.

This could increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease, and dementia.

Dr Sigman spells out his warning in the latest issue of Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology, and maintains that social networking sites have played a significant role in people becoming more isolated.

He said: "Social networking is the internet's biggest growth area, particular among young children.

"A quarter of British children have a laptop or computer in their room by the age of five and they have their own social networking sites, like the BBC's myCBBC. It's causing huge changes."

Dr Sigman said 209 "socially regulated" genes have been identified, including ones involved in the immune system, cell proliferation and responses to stress.

Electronic media is also undermining the ability of children and young people to learn vital social skills and read body language, he said.

Dr Sigman continued: "One of the most pronounced changes in the daily habits of British citizens is a reduction in the number of minutes per day that they interact with another human being.

"In less than two decades, the number of people saying there is no one with whom they discuss important matters nearly tripled.

"Parents spend less time with their children than they did only a decade ago. Britain has the lowest proportion of children in all of Europe who eat with their parents at the table. The proportion of people who work at home alone continues to rise.

"I am worried about where this is all leading. It's not that I'm old fashioned in terms of new technology, but the purpose of any new technology should be to provide a tool that enhances our lives.

"Social networking sites should allow us to embellish our social lives, but what we find is very different. The tail is wagging the dog. These are not tools that enhance, they are tools that displace."

Research suggests the number of hours people spend interacting face-to-face has fallen dramatically since 1987 as electronic media use increases.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090220/tuk-ge...fe-dba1618.html

as opposed to people who spend too much time on forums?

I find facebook does embellish my social life, and it does so splendidly. I recommend it to anyone, and most especially expats.

Real life example, my sisters new very serious boyfriend (who I have never met in real life) contacted me yesterday via facebook to ask me to make a video birthday message as part of a big birthday surprise he is planning. We have never spoken one on one, even via telephone (who calls older brothers of girlfriends they have never me) but via facebook we have established a certain level of trust and mutual respect, even become friends Net result my sister will have a wonderful birthday surprise and our lives become closer, despite the geographocal distance.

It allows me to keep in touch and follow the progress of my over 160 friends lives (some new, some old, and spread all over the world) as they post photos of their weddings, birthday parties, and more recently their children.

How else could I do that so conveniently?

I've never used it - don't know much about it, except that daughter is on it for an hour or two every night with friends/boyfriend. As far as I can tell, it just seems to be some sort of live chatroom between friends.

As a first step towards returning man to human being status, all digital technology should be destroyed. Except music.

Yep, I like The Human League too.

As a first step towards returning man to human being status, all digital technology should be destroyed. Except music.

Yeah, "Ban The Byte"!

JxP

Are you really on Face Book?

Good Luck

Moss

Like any 'tool' is can be mis-used or abused, the recent case of the British guy after an incident on holiday in Spain being 'taught a lesson' with the aid of a fake facebook identity, the problem comes back to trust. Can you trust that the information that you give will be treated with the same care and respect that you consider it should? Even people within my circle of contacts can not be relied upon not to 'forward' emails without removing my email address, they wonder why I don't give them my work email address.

I have encountered people that think it's a blessing but I would no consider it for myself.

Everyone is famous for 15 minutes. Everyone is famous for 15 people.

The problem with having 971 friends on facebook is when you organise a BBQ in your back garden none of them turn up!

You can fit 971 people in your back yard, Tiggs? Is your surname Mountbatten?

My point was... Oh never mind!

Never mind. Oh, okay, you said that already...

The problem with having 971 friends on facebook is when you organise a BBQ in your back garden none of them turn up!

I understand from reading the popular press on this subject that BBQs or parties that are organised via Facebook and other social websites are very well attended, even by people that you don't know yet.

Seafood and pancake BBQ at Casa Cuban - Sunday 10am, be there.

Right, see ya sunday...

I found more than 50 high school friends from Los Angeles, ppl I haven't spoken to in over 20 years. We all got together last month. I think facebook is good for finding old friends.

I have 6 friends on facebook and one of them is one of our own

I joined Facebook and I can't convince it that my secondary school has ever existed event though it was founded in the 11th century and only ceased to exist in 1989.

Vita Sine Litteris Mors !

I am on facebook and love it. Great place to upload photos and keep in touch. endure-- look me up!

I am on facebook and love it. Great place to upload photos and keep in touch. endure-- look me up!

I agree..

You can use facebook and not give away too many details about yourself. For instance, people can't find me on there unless I want them to, and privacy settings can be changed so that only your friends ( and not friends of friends) can see your updates/photos

Totster

its a great tool for me, I live in the middle of nowhere and all my close friends and family are somewhere else. I can tell you, having gone with the occasional phone call and letters for years, then email but no photos because the connection was bad, facebook is great.

I can see whats going on in my nephew's life, watch my niece-in-law's burgeoning pregnancy, and keep up to date with friends that I would have otherwise lost contact with.

I love my computer - because all my friends live in it ....

My favourite Facebook piece:

If you want to download: FacebookSkit.flv

Peter

I've just got on twitter also...

totster

I set up a facebook account once.

After I set it up and added some friends, I thought to myself "O.K then, so now what?". I haven't bothered with it since.