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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Facebook Bad for Teens, Warns Archbishop

Social networking degrades friendship, can lead to suicide

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(Newser) – Facebook and MySpace are degrading our ability to relate to one another and pushing young people to suicide, the head of the Catholic Church in England tells the Telegraph. Archbishop Vincent Nichols is concerned that social-networking websites encourage teens to form only “transient relationships,” which can leave them feeling hopeless when they dissipate.

"They throw themselves into a friendship or network of friendships, then it collapses and they're desolate," the prelate said. His comments come after the suicide of a 15-year-old British girl who had been bullied on Bebo. "Facebook and MySpace might contribute towards communities, but I'm wary about it,” Nichols said. "It's not rounded communication so it won't build a rounded community.”

Backdropped by a picture of Pope Benedict XVI, Vincent Nichols, the newly appointed Archbishop of Westminster, leaves a news conference in central London, Friday, April 3, 2009.
Backdropped by a picture of Pope Benedict XVI, Vincent Nichols, the newly appointed Archbishop of Westminster, leaves a news conference in central London, Friday, April 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Navy reservist Lt. Gen. Tommy Groves, 33, of Jacksonville, Fla., points to the Facebook website during an interview with the AP in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
Navy reservist Lt. Gen. Tommy Groves, 33, of Jacksonville, Fla., points to the Facebook website during an interview with the AP in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, May 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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We're losing social skills, human interaction skills. Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanises what is a very, very important part of community life and living together.
- Archbishop Vincent Nichols

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12 comments
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polstroad
Aug 2, 09 1:12 PM CDT
right. things were so much better without technology.We had no wars, nice marriages, no adultery or porn, No way to get in touch with those we loved from the past and on and on...a girl got bullied. That never happened before the net. Reply
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+11
gabo
Aug 2, 09 1:13 PM CDT
The Catholic Church hasn't backed anything modern since the rack was invented during the Inquistion. Reply
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+7
zr1556
Aug 2, 09 1:19 PM CDT
As a teenager, I see absolutely no difference in my friendships from before I joined facebook, compared to being on it for two years. Leave it to people to hear about one person who overdid the facebook thing, and committed suicide, and think everyone is going crazy. It's ridiculous. Reply
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+6
Liberal_Fascist
Aug 2, 09 1:30 PM CDT
"Facebook and MySpace are degrading our ability to relate to one another and pushing young people to suicide." I do believe that the same can be said about being an altar boy. Reply
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+4
MarkFL
Aug 2, 09 2:08 PM CDT
Catholic church may lead to feelings of guilt, homophobia, irrationality, cult behavior, sexual abuse, and stupid comments about social networks. Please beware of this predatory and dangerous organization. Reply
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+6

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