Facebook and Twitter ARE more addictive than fags and booze

If you think a Tweet is a bird's noise and someone who gets poked by lots of random people needs a visit to the clinic - then stop being anti-social... network!

And if you're reading this then congratulations - you're dipping your toe into the world of blogging.

But a study published in February's Psychological Science journal revealed that information sharing websites such as Facebook and Twitter (and blogging) - are now all more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol.

And with good reason.

Facebook and Twitter can introduce you to a whole world of new people and cultures – just like stepping outside the pub for a cigarette does following the smoking ban.

And – just like with alcohol – you can speak your true feelings, there's no awkward silences and you don't have to worry about body language.

Don't you see social networks are a fantastic invention that are revolutionising society?

Never before have you been able to vet a potential future partner with such scrutiny on everything from their baby pictures to how much time they tend to their virtual farm.

Or share with the world that every Saturday night you sit in with the same Chinese takeaway with the same person watching the same mind-numbing ‘talent' shows like everyone else.

But on a serious note, these sites do have many benefits.

Users have met their future partners, discovered long lost relatives and uncovered family history memorabilia dating back centuries.

Whether you love them or loathe them social networks are at the forefront of technology.

Humans by nature are social creatures.

Some researchers claim that there are almost 30 million UK Facebook users who log on regularly to social networks.

That's pretty much one in every two people and is remarkable considering 10 years ago nobody in this country had heard of Facebook.

After ten years of pressure a friend of mine in his twenties caved in and signed up last week, wondering what all the fuss was about he hasn't looked back since.

I've been racking my brains and I now can't think of anybody between the age of 10 and 30 who I know who hasn't joined the service.

Like millions of others I love Facebook and Twitter and can't imagine what life would be like without them.

But they should definately be made to come with a warning - like cigarettes and alcohol - that too much Tweeting and poking can damage your health.