Study blames Facebook for rise in sex diseases

London, Mar 25: Social networking sites like Facebook are behind the whooping four-fold rise in sex diseases in Britain, a study has established.

The UK has recorded a four-fold increase in syphilis cases and this is because more and more people are indulging in sex with strangers they meet on the internet through sites such as Facebook, the study revealed.

"There has been a four-fold increase in the number of syphilis cases detected, with more young women being affected," Professor Peter Kelly, director of Public Health for NHS Tees is quoted as saying in The Sun.

He informed that the figures show that several people, who were detected with the potentially-lethal STD, had met sexual partners through social networking sites.

"Social networking sites are making it easier for people to meet up for casual sex. There is a rise in syphilis because people are having more sexual partners than 20 years ago and often do not use condoms," he added.

The Sun's Mar 24 report also said that the highest rates were observed in women aged 20 to 24 and men aged 25 to 34.

It has also been found that when adults decide to indulge in sexual intercourse with people they have met on the internet they are more prone to risky behaviour.

When the newspaper contacted Facebook for a response, all the company had to say was the people should take 'precautions' and be cautious when it comes to meeting people on the internet.

OneIndia News