Facebook ‘makes loneliness worse’
December 31st, 2009 - 2:16 pm ICT by ANI
London, Dec 31 (ANI): While social networking sites like Facebook are keeping people more connected than ever, loneliness is still a problem, especially among young people.
In fact, young people are worried more about loneliness than the elderly, according to a new survey by the Samaritans. 21 per cent of those aged between 18 and 24 said that it was one of their main worries, compared with 8 per cent of over-55s.
Leanne Rivers, the co-director of the Samaritans’ Central London branch, said that the explosion of social networking sites had added to the problem.
“Social networking has not helped because it is a remote contact. Some young people don’t have any real friends,” Times Online quoted Rivers as saying.
“They are completely surrounded by people, but they can still be lonely because they are not able to make lasting bonds,” Rivers added.
The trend has been highlighted by a new website, uSocial.net, which offers visitors the chance to purchase friends on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. (ANI)
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Tags: bonds, central london branch, co director, explosion, facebook, leanne, loneliness, new survey, real friends, rivers, samaritans, social networking sites, worries
