• Online Social Networking Injurious to Health

    Online Social Networking Injurious to Health

    Techtree News Staff, Feb 20, 2009 1655 hrs IST

    Humans physically and socially becoming disengaged from people around them

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Over the years, one-to-one heartfelt conversations between people have been taken over by 'scraping,' 'tweeting,' etc. on a plethora of social networking websites, which have grown rapidly in number.


A study by Dr Aric Sigman, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, reveals that whether in or out of the home, more and more people of all ages are physically and socially becoming disengaged from people around them because they are wearing earphones, talking, or texting on a mobile phone, or using a laptop or a BlackBerry.


Sigman says a reduction in direct social connection is associated with a growing number of specific physiological alterations and significant health risks in human beings. He added that the lack of "real" interaction in extreme cases can also lead to genetic alterations, immunological changes, and changes in hormonal levels and overall mental health.


The study conducted on British citizens says that one of the most pronounced changes in their daily habits over the years has been 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 stating that there is no one with whom they can discuss important matters nearly tripled.


"Children now spend more time in the family home alone in front of the TV/computer screens than doing anything else: Twenty-five percent of British five-year-olds own a computer or a laptop of their own. There is an enormous increase in 'social networking' among younger and younger children, which is now their main reason for using the Internet. UK social-networking usage is now the highest in Europe. The trend is set to increase," Sigman says.


Does this revelation come as a surprise to you, or have sites like Orkut, Facebook, and Twitter become an integral part of your lives too? Instead of talking to your folks, are you 'tweeting' them? Or do you still believe that the good old "Jaadu ki Jappi" can do wonders. Let us know what you feel.

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social Networking Orkut Facebook Twitter social networking BlackBerry British Psychological Society Dr Aric Sigman



Discussion Board
(1) Comments
Lindy griffith
,Trinidad and Tobago, on Apr 07, 2009 06:33 AM
i believe this research in true cause i have the internet 4 jus about a month and my folks are complaining about my distance actually jus some seconds ago they told me i don't interact no more.
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