Poll: Is social media destroying lives?

Almost half of people fear they are addicted to websites and apps, with many trying but failing to stop using them, a new study has shown.

A survey of 2,000 adults also found that three out of five believed their friendships were becoming "superficial" because of the way they stayed in touch.

Online contact is now used as a replacement for meeting up in person, according to the research by Thomas J Fudge's Remarkable Bakery.

A third of those polled said they had deleted their online social media accounts in the past, only to sign up again within a week.

Sue Fudge, director at Thomas J Fudge, said: "Modern life has had an enormous effect on the way we conduct our friendships.

"Never before have humans had the chance to communicate with so many people at once, and develop such wide social networks.

"However, this study shows that social media can be addictive and has an adverse effect on relationships.

"Increasingly, friends are choosing not to meet up in person and instead communicate via social media. The importance of friends meeting up face-to-face at regular intervals cannot be overstated."

Social media sites have become big business in recent years – and most businesses in Shropshire now also communicate their wares through sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook shares soared to all-time highs last year, although Twitter struggled financially with its shares falling. Other sites like Snapchat and Whatsapp have shown significant growth.

The sites are particularly popular with young people.

There has been concern that chatrooms can be a source of bullying, with problems experienced within school time now being extended to online chats after school and at weekends.

Most schools across Shropshire and Mid Wales ban the use of mobile phones in school time and also include the issue of social media in their strategies to tackle bullying.

Take-away food delivery driver Dean Hindley is a self-confessed social media addict.

The 21-year-old, from Madeley, says he cannot go even 10 minutes without looking at his phone.

He said: "The bad thing is it causes problems, with relationships and people trying to make trouble – it can ruin friendships. But I try to use it positively, to speak to people. It means I can get across things that I want to say and I can see what everyone else is up to, apart from my life."

Someone who has found social media particularly useful is 28-year-old Leanne Morris from Oswestry. The mum-of-two is currently in hospital in Telford with her baby son Frankie, who was born five weeks early on December 29.

She has been using social media to stay in contact with her older daughter and family – as well as letting people know about her new arrival.

"I use it but I wouldn't say I am addicted," she explained. "I have been using it recently to keep people up-to-date."

Mihai Voiculescu, who lives in Lawley Bank, says he sees people who are addicted to social media but tries to avoid it himself.

The 37-year-old quality engineer said: "I think people use it to show off. It is a waste of time. Some people don't have anything better to do.

"I just use it because I have family abroad and it is the cheapest way to communicate with them, and also with friends."