Women are said to be particularly vulnerable because their self-worth stems from relationships with others and Facebook compels them to 'acquire' hundreds of friends.
LOLZ!
Furthermore, social networking sites are becoming a substitute for families as traditional ties become weaker, according to experts.
David Smallwood, an addictions expert with the Priory clinic, said that at least 10 per cent of the population were vulnerable to 'friendship addiction.
He said the site was unsuitable for people recovering from drug, alcohol and shopping addictions and could increase feelings of rejection through the friend 'request' function. Anyone who is rejected cannot then access the webpage of the person who refused the original request.
"Acquisition of friends is like any other fix but it's competitive. You judge yourself by how many friends you have online. You go out of your way to amass friends and that means people bend out of shape and become something they are not.
"To appear successful, you go and put yourself in credit card debt by buying clothes and handbags. I see patients who are on Facebook and my response is 'get yourself off it'.
"If you're an addict you need to do things to fix yourself and make yourself feel better. People in recovery look for ways of being 'fixed' and these websites can act the same way."
Facebook has more than 100 million users around the world.
However, a report published about mental health said sites such as Facebook could protect older people from social isolation.
LOLZ!
Furthermore, social networking sites are becoming a substitute for families as traditional ties become weaker, according to experts.
David Smallwood, an addictions expert with the Priory clinic, said that at least 10 per cent of the population were vulnerable to 'friendship addiction.
He said the site was unsuitable for people recovering from drug, alcohol and shopping addictions and could increase feelings of rejection through the friend 'request' function. Anyone who is rejected cannot then access the webpage of the person who refused the original request.
"Acquisition of friends is like any other fix but it's competitive. You judge yourself by how many friends you have online. You go out of your way to amass friends and that means people bend out of shape and become something they are not.
"To appear successful, you go and put yourself in credit card debt by buying clothes and handbags. I see patients who are on Facebook and my response is 'get yourself off it'.
"If you're an addict you need to do things to fix yourself and make yourself feel better. People in recovery look for ways of being 'fixed' and these websites can act the same way."
Facebook has more than 100 million users around the world.
However, a report published about mental health said sites such as Facebook could protect older people from social isolation.
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