The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 2 -

1. Introduction:

My topic is “The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking”. Social

networking sites have some negative impacts upon our health. Though we usually ignore

these impacts, but later on our body suffers serious problems due to negligence towards

these effects. These minor occurrences become serious health problems with course of

time.

Based on the concept of connecting people globally (the idea that any two person on

the planet could make contact through internet), social networking establishes

interconnected internet community (sometimes known as personal networks) that help

people make contacts with anyone from any corner of the globe, but that they would be

unlikely to have met otherwise. But according to Dr. Sigman, “They were actually

playing a significant role in people becoming more isolated” (2011, July 23).

Researchers are suggesting that social networking sites might be

bad for physical and mental health, especially in children. Experts are

concerned children's online social interactions can 'rewire' the brain. Baroness Greenfield,

an Oxford University neuroscientist and director of the Royal Institution, believes

repeated exposure could effectively 'rewire' the brain.

Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are said to shorten

attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people

more self-centered. Now a days, young people spends hours, possibly all
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 3 -

day, and much of the night networking on a computer, which is harming

their body and brain in many ways.

According to psychologist Dr. Sigman, “Emailing people rather than meeting up with

them may have wide-ranging biological effects” (2011, July 23). Decreased face-to-face

interaction can make people more self centered. People are becoming lonelier and more

depressed due to lack of human interaction.

Most of the studies discussed looked at the effects of social isolation on health, with

no reporting of whether isolation was caused by increased computer usage. According to

the Daily Mail, using Facebook “could raise your risk of cancer”. The newspaper

reported that social networking sites “could raise your risk of serious health problems by

reducing levels of face-to-face contact” (2009, February 19).

We are becoming more isolated from our family and relatives. We are becoming

more dependent on electronic devices and gadgets and more inclined to spend our free

time with people whom we barely know or care about – with whom we share nothing but

an electronic relationship. As a result, a communication gap is creating among the family

members and relatives. These sites are drawing us away from people who are important

in our life instead of pulling us together. Network science expert Steven Strogatz, PhD,

expressed his worries about growing confusion between our weak ties (people who might

be useful in referring us to a good dentist or helping us find a job) and our strong ties

(those we're very close to). He said, "The distinction between genuine friends and
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 4 -

acquaintances is becoming blurred. Users are spending time maintaining relationships

with people they don't really care about" (2009, October).

When using these sites becomes addiction, it is no less harmful than TV or gaming

addiction. Young mind are exposed to censored articles, forums, pictures and videos

through these sites. My research will contain the extent to which these sites can harm

people and I expect my paper to be an eye opener to them.

2. Background:

Bangladesh is not a technologically developed country. But even here, users of

social networking sites are increasing everyday. Too much usage of these sites has some

long term effect upon our mental and physical health. Social networking websites are

many today. This has been an integral part of each and every internet savvy person all

over the world. . It’s a new fashion and a revelation in today’s world. It has become a

lifestyle. But lately researchers found out that these social networks are taking the people

in their captivity.

Real interaction is decreasing day by day due to increasing use of social networking

sites. An article features a graph showing that “time spent in daily face-to-face social

interaction has declined from about six hours in 1987 to about two to three hours in 2007.

This decline is plotted next to results that report that time spent in electronic media use

has increased from about four hours in 1987 to almost eight hours in 2007. These figures

are reported to come from ‘time use and demographic studies’” (2009, February 19).
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 5 -

Besides this, the impact of these sites upon our physical and mental health is

alarming. Number of insomnia and arthritis patients is increasing with the increase in

number of users of these sites. Our eyes and nerves are the main sufferers of too much

exposure to these sites. It reduces our ability to concentrate and it affects our educational

and professional performances.

Too much usage of these sites turns us into mechanical geeks and dependent on these

gadgets for every single thing. Thus we lead ourselves towards social isolation which has

severe genetic effects. Research at the UCLA School of Medicine report finds that “social

isolation can affect the level to which genes are active in white blood cells. People

reporting high levels of social isolation had 78 genes that were more active and 131 genes

that were less active than in people with low levels of social isolation” (2009, February

19).

This mechanical socialism is taking a heavy toll on our health. It increases the risk of

high blood pressure, dementia, stroke etc. Too much networking is also one of the main

reasons of back pain, eating disorder, weight gain etc. It is also responsible for poor body

balance due to fewer movements of our body joints which can leads to osteoporosis (bone

decay).

We establish many online relationships through these sites. Sometimes it is good

and gives us breathe of fresh air to know people of different kind from every corner of

the world. It makes us excited to find lost friends and acquaintances and gives us a

chance to keep in touch with them. "It can be exhilarating, at least at first, to connect with

long-lost friends," says network science expert Steven Strogatz, PhD, a professor of
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 6 -

applied mathematics at Cornell University (2009, October).But while we are finding our

lost friends or making friends with people about whom we really don’t care, we are

drifting away from our family and relatives. These online relationships are hampering our

personal relationships like marriage, children, family etc. With increasing use of

electronic media, face-to-face interaction is decreasing rapidly.

A 2003 study from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) is cited to support this

statement. It says, “Couples spend less time with each other and parents spend less time

with their children than a decade ago” (2009. February 19). The recent tragedy of Dhaka

University teacher Rumana Manjur is the glowing example of the negative impact of

these sites upon our personal life. The list of this kind of incidents is increasing.

It creates a communication gap among family members; make people feel lonely and

create doubt in relations. Cheated by fraud and commit suicide as a result, killing or

torturing the spouse on the basis of doubt of disloyalty - these occurrences are happening

more often that before.

Dr Aric Sigman says websites such as Facebook set out to enrich social lives, but end

up keeping people apart. He makes his warning in Biologist, the journal of the Institute of

Biology. According to his suggestion, “A lack of 'real' social networking, involving

personal interaction, may have biological effects. Evidence suggests that a lack of face-

to-face networking could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone

levels, the function of arteries, and influence mental performance. It's probably an

evolutionary mechanism that recognizes the benefits of us being together geographically.

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 7 -

Much of it isn't understood, but there does seem to be a difference between 'real presence'

and the virtual variety” (2011).

Personal interaction is a complete different action that cannot be seen while we are

interacting online. There is no way to hide the true reaction or make witty reply or show

the right impulses where we are really socializing. We had to follow our true reaction and

this cause to happen things that are natural, not thoughtfully directed. It enables to know

about the person with whom we are being friends, his or her ability, common sense and

skills. Body language is an important thing to judge a person’s character. Electronic

media is lowering our ability to read peoples’ body language.

No less an authority on the brain’s workings than Susan Greenfield, a professor of

pharmacology at Oxford University and the director of the Royal Institution of Great

Britain, told a British newspaper on Tuesday that social networking sites remind her of

the way that “small babies need constant reassurance that they exist” and make her worry

about the effects that this sort of stimulation is having on the brains of users. Lady

Greenfield (she’s a neuroscientist and a baroness) told the Daily Mail:

“My fear is that these technologies are infantilizing the brain into the state of small

children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention

span and who live for the moment” (2009, February 24).

These statements support her earlier comments about harmful effects of networking

and computer games on children. In a debate in the House of Lords, she said, “If the

young brain is exposed from the outset to a world of fast action and reaction, of instant
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 8 -

new screen images flashing up with the press of a key, such rapid interchange might

accustom the brain to operate over such timescales” (2009).

3. Research Questions (Areas of Research):

I intend to explore the adverse effects of social networking on our health and how

much it causes sufferings to people’s health. Moreover I wish to investigate how much it

hampers our professional and personal lives. I have studied some areas explaining

demerits of excessive social networking as a research, which I think will be helpful for

the people to get acquainted with the problem and take action to solve it.

There are five questions that I have explored specifically:-

Question no 1:-

What is social networking?

I have chosen 22 people to perform a survey about what they think what is social

networking. All of them were young people (students) whose age range was between 18-

25 years. Among them I have found out that 10 of them think it is a medium of

international communication, 8 of them consider it as a source of finding lost people and

make new friends and 4 of them consider it just as a time passing element. So, I think

most people use it for international connections and to find and keep in touch with long

lost friends.
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 9 -

Question no 2:-

What impact has it upon people?

In my survey I found out that nearly 43% students think that these sites has little or no

effects whereas 24% people think that it shortens time they spend with their family.

Another 24% think that people has become more self centered, when 13% of the students

say that it increases communication gap in family and 4% students are saying about being

cheated by frauds.

Question no 3:-

How much are these sites affecting people physically?

My survey is saying that most of the students think that due to excess networking our

eyes and brain are being affected most. Insomnia is considered the main disease that is

caused by too much usage of social networking sites. A considerable percentage thinks

that networking is also responsible for weight gain, poor balance and osteoporosis (bone

decay).

Question no 4:-

How much are these sites affecting people mentally?

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 10 -

Most of the students of the survey think these sites has made them too preoccupied to

notice what is happening around them and keep hem away from the real world. It shows

that these sites are keeping them away from knowing the current affairs of the world.

Some think that being cheated by frauds left them mentally shattered.

Question no 5:-

How these sites can hamper peoples’ professional and educational life?

According to my survey results 43% of students think they become too tired too

concentrate on their work by chatting and sitting up late or all night, another 43% of

students say that they cannot complete their tasks at given time due to spending too much

time on these sites. 19% students think they are depriving themselves from gathering

general knowledge from other sources and 4% students think that their work standard is

deteriorating.
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 11 -

4. Hypothesis:

Social networking sites might be bad for physical and mental health, especially for

children. From my research, I hope to find that people are realizing these things and using

these sites to a rational extent. Sometimes these sites contain some articles, pictures and

other contents that are not suitable for underage persons and it may violate their thoughts. I

expect to find that the parents know about this and they are being careful with their

underage children when it comes to social networking. I also think that people will realize

that it is driving them away from their near ones, hampering their respective careers, and

health and they reduce their usage of these sites.

5. Methodology:

To find information about impacts of social networking upon our health I have
incorporated two methods to collect data.
• Primary Data Collection
• Secondary Data Collection

In primary data collection I have done a survey on 21 people, all of them were students

and their age limit was 19 – 25 years. These groups (teenagers and young adults) are the

biggest users of social networking sites and as they are educated enough to understand my

topic I choose to do the survey with them.

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 12 -

In secondary data collection I have mainly gone through some internet searching, like

[Link]

[Link] etc. I also used other articles found

from the internet.

6. Data Presentation and Analysis:

Data Survey Result:

Sample Size-21 respondents and in percentage (%)

Question no Options
a b c d e
1 47.60% 38.10% 0% 19.10% N/A
2 57.10% 19.10% 14.30% 4.76% 4.76%
3 95.20% 0% 0% 4.76% N/A
4 23.81% 42.86% 23.81% 14.29% 4.76%
5 28.57% 38.10% 14.29% 28.57% N/A
6 66.67% 23.81% 0% 28.57% N/A
7 33.30% 28.60% 38.10% 9.52% N/A
8 9.52% 66.70% 19.04% 9.52% N/A
9 23.80% 4.76% 66.70% 9.52% N/A
10 42.90% 19.05% 42.90% 4.76% N/A

Data Analysis:

1. What is your definition of social networking sites?

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 13 -

o a medium of communication with the whole world

o finding lost friends and making new acquaintances

o knowing about international celebrities and get a chance to befriend with

them

o just a pastime element

definition of social networking

60.00%
response

40.00%
47.60%
38.10%
20.00%
19.10%
0%
0.00%
medium of findning lost knowing about int. just a passtime
international friends and celebrities and element
communication making new befriend with them
acquaintances

This graph shows what today’s generation thinks about social networking.

47.60% people think these sites are medium of international communication, 38.10%

people consider these sites as a medium of finding lost friends and making new

acquaintances and rest of them think it is just a medium of time passing.

So I have come to the conclusion that people mostly use it to make international

friendship and relationship and to find lost friends.

2. How often one visits these sites?

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 14 -

o almost everyday

o once in a week

o every few weeks

often one visits these sites

o once in a month

o practically never

19.10%
14.30%

4.76% 4.76%

a week every few weeks once in a month practically never

This column chart shows how frequently one uses these sites.

57.10% people say they visit these sites daily (this supports my hypothesis). 19.10%

say they visit these sites on weekly basis. 14.30% people say they visit these sites every

few weeks. 4.76% say the visit these sites once in a month. Rest of the 4.76% students

say the never visit these sites.

So my opinion is people are getting more and more addicted to social networking site

and it becomes a necessary to visit these sites regularly for most of them.
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 15 -

3. On an average how much time do you spend at these sites?

o 1-3 hours

o 4-5 hours

o 5-6 hours

o countless hours

spending time on average

5%
1-3 hours 4-50%
hours 5-6 hours countless hours

0%

95%

This pie chart shows on average how much time people spend visiting these sites.

95% students of the survey group say that they spend at least 1 -3 hours. Rest of them

thinks they cannot keep track of time when they sit for online networking.

I think people waste their valuable time on networking. They spend a lot more time

on networking and chatting that they should have.

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 16 -

4. How much is it affecting our day to day life?

o it shortens the time one spends with family

o doesn’t change much

o People has become more self-centered

o Communication gap among family members increases

o People get cheated by frauds frequently

impact on our day to day life

42.86%
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
23.81% 23.81%
response

25.00%
20.00% 14.29%
15.00%
10.00% 4.76%
5.00%
0.00%
shorten time one doesn't change much people has become communication gap in cheated by frauds
spends w ith family more self-centered family increases frequently

This cone chart shows what the impact of social networking sites in our life.

42.86% of total students believe that it doesn’t change their life much. However, rest

of the students (which is 57.14%) feels that these sites hamper their family life and

mental peace in one way or another. 23.81% students think it shortens the time they

spend with their family, another 23.81% think that they are becoming more self-centered,

14.29% students say that communication gap is increasing in family. 4.76% students

believe that they loose their mental peace by being cheated by frauds.
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 17 -

Judging by the graph, I think people have started to realize the negative side of

excessive networking, though the realization process is slow.

5. What is the best thing about these sites?

o Being friends with people from every corner of the world

o Finding lost friends

o Knowing everyone’s whereabouts (including favorite celebrities)

o Getting useful information while chatting with friends

best things about these sites

Getting useful information while chatting w ith friends 28.57%

knowing everyone’s (celebrities also)whereabouts 14.29%

Finding lost friends 38.10%

having friends fromevery corner of the w orld 28.57%

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 35.00% 40.00%

response

This cone chart shows what the best feature of these sites is.

Finding lost friends is considered the best thing about social networking. 38.10% of

total students think in this way, whereas 28.57% students consider having international

friends is the best feature of these sites. Getting useful information while chatting is

considered the best thing by 28.57% of total students. 14.29% students think that being

able to know about their favorite celebrity’s latest news is the best thing.
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 18 -

Though people initially liked these sites for finding lost friends option, their demand

are changing and becoming meaningless in many cases.

6. Which organ of human body get affected most by continuous use of these sites?

o Eyes

o Brain (nerves)

o Hands

o Backbone

most affected organ of human body

eyes brain (nerves) hands backbone

24%

0%

56%
20%

This pie chart shows which organ of human gets mostly affected by too much

networking.

56% of total students think their eyes suffer most due to excessive use of social

networking sites (supports my hypothesis). 24% students think their backbone is the most
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 19 -

suffering organ in this process. 20% students think their brain is being harmed by too

much networking; especially their nerves.

I can say that too much exposure of our eyes to these sites are really harmful for our

vital organs like backbone, eyes, brain and it can be disastrous in the long run.

7. What are the normal disorders that our body suffers due to constant uses of

social networking sites?

o gaining weights by consuming foods rich in fat, sugar and calories

o poor balance due to less or no movement

o back pain

o eating disorder

normal body disorders due to excess netwrking

50.00% 33.30%
response 28.60% 38.10%
0.00%
gaining weights 9.52%
poor balance
back pain
eating disorder

gaining weights poor balance back pain eating disorder

Series1 33.30% 28.60% 38.10% 9.52%

This cone chart shows the normal disorders that our body suffers due to constant uses

of social networking sites.

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 20 -

According to the students, back pain is the most common disorder that occurs due to

constant networking. 38.10% students say that (agreeing with my hypothesis). 33.30%

students are worried about the weight they gain by sitting constantly while networking.

28.60% students think their limbs become rigid and they loose balance over their body.

9.52% students think it can be a cause of eating disorder.

Students are more or less aware of the drawbacks of too much networking, though

they are not going to give it up anytime soon.

8. Which of these serious diseases is most likely to attack us for inefficient

movement for our body due to continuous browsing of social networking sites?

o Arthritis

o Insomnia

o Osteoporosis (bone decay)

o Parkinson’s Dementia (degenerative disorder of the brain)

serious diseases caused by inefficient

movement
Arthritis

Insomnia

Osteoporosis (bone decay)

Parkinson’s Dementia (degenerative disorder of the brain)

9% 9%

18%

64%
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 21 -

This pie chart shows what serious disease is most likely to attack us for inefficient

movement for our body due to sitting continuously at one position while browsing of

social networking sites.

64% students think insomnia is the one disease that is most like to attack them

(matching with my hypothesis). 18% of them think it is osteoporosis, 9% students think it

is arthritis, another 9% students think it is Parkinson’s dementia.

I think more people are becoming victim of insomnia and osteoporosis with the

passing time.

9. How it is affecting our mentality?

o We are getting self-centered

o We feel shattered when we get cheated by frauds

o We are too busy at networking that we can’t notice what is happening

around us

o It is not affecting our mentality at all

affect on our mentality

80.00%
66.70%
60.00%
response

40.00%
23.80%
20.00% 9.52%
4.76%
0.00%
We feel shattered w hen too preoccupied w ith
getting self-centered not affecting at all
get cheated by frauds networking to notice

Series1 23.80% 4.76% 66.70% 9.52%

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 22 -

This column chart is showing how social networking sites are affecting our mentality.

66.70% students think these sites are making them too preoccupied with networking

that they fail to notice what is happening around them. 23.80% students think they are

getting self-centered whereas 9.52% of total students think their life is not getting

affected at all. 4.76% think that they feel shattered when they get cheated by frauds.

I think now people will understand what the networking is doing to them and will be

careful while using them.

10. How it is affecting our professional and educational life?

o we become tired by overnight chatting and can’t concentrate to our works

and studies

o deprives us of acquiring knowledge from other important sites

o unable to complete our works and tasks at given time because of lack of

concentration and drowsiness

affect on professional and educational life

o lowering our standard of works and thus decreasing our position

deteriorating standard of w orks 4.76%
and thus loosing goodw ill

unable to complete w orks and 42.90%

tasks at given time

deprives of acquiring know ledge 19.05%

fromother important sites

become tired by overnight 42.90%

chatting and can’t concentrate

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00%

Response
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 23 -

This bar chart shows how these sites are affecting our professional and educational

life.

42.90% students complain that they are unable to finish their works at given time and

another 42.90% students say that they can not concentrate on their work because they

become tired by chatting and sitting up late at night (sometimes chatting whole night).

This make them feel sleepy. 19.05% think these sites deprive them from acquiring

knowledge from other sites and other sources and 4.76% students think their working

standard is deteriorating.

I think this survey shows us how harmful these sites are, even in our professional and

educational life.

7. Summary of Research Findings:

While doing this research, I find that today’s generation is considering these sites as a

medium of setting up international connections. They are too interested to make overseas

friends. They also consider this a way of finding lost friends.

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 24 -

They use these sites much more frequently than is necessary for them. On average,

most students spend 1-3 hours on these sites on a daily basis. They are spending their

valuable time by chatting and networking.

A large portion of these students think that their life is not being much affected by

excessive networking. But still majority of these students think that social networking

sites do have a negative impact on their life in one way or another.

Students think that the best part of these sites is finding lost friends, though this

notion is changing with changing demand of the users. They have started to expect more

versatile features from these sites. So, the purpose of networking is changing and in most

cases it is becoming meaningless and dangerous in some cases.

Students have started to realize that their vital body organs are being affected by

excessive use of networking sites. Most students agree that their eyes and backbone are

the biggest sufferers of networking. Back pain, gaining weight and deteriorating body

balance are the disorders that they are suffering or they think that people suffer most.

They think that number of insomnia and osteoporosis (bone decay) are increasing due to

continuous browsing of social networking and inefficient body movements.

These sites are affecting our educational and professional life, as well as our

mentality. These sites are hampering our study and profession in many ways. Most

students fail to submit their tasks and assignments at given time because they spend their

study time on networking. This not only wastes their time but also make them tired. Their

eyes and brain get tired due to exposure to the electronic gadgets. They can not

concentrate on their work. Overnight chatting and browsing make people feel tired and
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 25 -

drowsy and they can not attend their class or workplace with full concentration. This

lowers their standard of performance and cost their goodwill.

We become too preoccupied with networking when we are using these sites that we

pay little or no attention to our surroundings and what is happening there. We are getting

self-centered and aloof from our family and relative and from people who are really

important to us.

8. Recommendation:

While doing the survey I felt that people are much affected by these sites,

especially teenagers and students. I think that as these sites are used by educated people,

we can make them understand about the different negative impacts of these sites with

little effort.

So I suggest that we should start considering these negative impacts seriously. Parents

should be careful about which sites their children are visiting, with whom they are being

friends, whether their fascination for these sites is turning to an addiction or not, how

much they are spending regularly on these sites etc. Teenagers and young adults should
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 26 -

keep in mind that not all their online friends are real friends. They can be trapped by

cheaters and frauds whose intentions is something grave, which they are hiding behind

this so-called friendship. They can harm their social reputation. They also take care to the

fact that their important body parts such as eyes, brain etc. and their career are more

important than their online friends.

9. Conclusion:

My hypothesis was social networking sites can have different impacts (mainly

negative) on how much people use these sites.

Through my survey and secondary research I was able to show that these sites have

hidden negative effects on our lives. People are not realizing it clearly now, they have

started to take notice of the dark sides of these sites. People are just not ready yet to

accept the fact that these social networking sites are not unmixed blessings. In true sense,

these sites are more hazardous that it’s worth. Sir Alex Ferguson (manager – Manchester

United Football Club) says that he can’t fathom the importance of twitter. He says, “I
 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 27 -

don't understand it, to be honest with you. I don't have the time to do it. There are a

million things you can do with your life other than that. Go to a library and read a book.

I'm serious. What a waste of time” (2011, May 20). People must use these sites sensibly

and be careful when they are making friends with new people, who are strangers most of

the time. They are confusing our weak and strong ties. They should also prevent too

much exposure of their eyes and nerves to computers and other gadgets. I hope people

start noticing these things and reduce the use of these sites soon.

10. References:
1. How using Facebook could raise your risk of cancer. (2011). Retrieved July 31, 2011,

from [Link]

[Link]

2. Online networking 'harms health'. (2011). Retrieved July 31, 2011, from [Link]

[Link]/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/[Link]

3. Mackey, R. (2009, February 24). Is Social Networking Killing You? The New York

Times. Retrieved July 31, 2011, from [Link]

social-networking-killing-you/

4. Jarvis, T. (2009, October). Social Not-Working: The Perils of Too Much

 The Negative Health Effects of Social Networking ‫׀ ׀‬- 28 -

Communication. O, The Oprah Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2011, from [Link]

[Link]/relationships/Negative-Impact-of-Social-Networking-Websites-at-Work//

5. Face book 'cancer risk'. (2009, February 19). Retrieved July 31, 2011, from http://

[Link]/news/2009/02February/Pages/[Link]

6. Derbyshire, D. (2009, February 24). Social websites harm children's brains: Chilling

warning to parents from top neuroscientist. Retrieved July 31, 2011, from http://

[Link]/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-

[Link]

7. Twitter is 'a waste of time'. (2011, May 20). The Telegraph. Retrieved July 31, 2011,

from [Link]

[Link]