What do you get out of "facebook" and other similar sites

I've copied this from an article and just wonder what others think.

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 Internets 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personally I have given up all of the "chat" sites. Simply because they interrupted me whilst doing other things on my computer, particularly keeping my www.tour-devon.com up to date. I got fed up with little pop up windows telling me that someone wanted to chat. When you think about it the word chat for these sites is wrong. It's not chat it's text messaging. Chat is done face to face or via a telephone link with your voice. I know people who say they have made a lot of friends on these sites but is that really true. For a start most people don't tell the truth about themselves on the sites and to me a friend is someone you spend time with and share personal stuff. That isn't the way the "chat" sites work is it? OK you may write personal stuff but you don't see any reaction from the other person, you only get what they choose to write back and that can be a million miles away from what they truly think. I also think it encourages youngsters to get involved in things they should not be.
What I think is not going to change anything but maybe with the "experts" making comments about it, there just might be a slight move back to people actually talking to each other face to face.