The women addicted to Facebook friendships

FACEBOOK is to blame for "friendship addiction", a leading psychologist warned today.

David Smallwood, an addictions expert with the Priory, says the social networking site is fuelling insecurity in users.

Women are particularly vulnerable because their self-worth stems from relationships with others and Facebook compels them to "acquire" hundreds of friends, says Mr Smallwood.

Social networking has transformed the way certain sections of society communicate.

Facebook has nearly 60 million users with two million new people joining every week.

Research shows social networking sites are becoming a substitute for families in countries like Britain where traditional ties have become weaker.

Mr Smallwood, lead therapist with the Priory's addictions unit in north London, said that at least 10 per cent of the population were vulnerable to "friendship addiction". He added: 'The problem with Facebook is it's all about acquisition and this is an addictive process.

"Acquisition of friends is like any other fix but it's competitive you judge yourself by how many friends you have online. You go out of your way to amass friends and that means people bend out of shape and become something they are not.

"To appear successful, you go and put yourself in credit card debt by buying clothes and handbags. I see patients who are on Facebook and my response is 'get yourself off it'.''

Mr Smallwood said the site was unsuitable for people recovering from drug, alcohol and shopping addictions. He said: 'If you're an addict you need to do things to fix yourself and make yourself feel better.

"People in recovery look for ways of being 'fixed' and these websites can act the same way.

"But the problem is there are probably only three to four people who can be at the top in terms of popularity. Anyone else is just an also-ran which increases the feelings of inadequacy."

The site could also increase feelings of rejection through its system where users "request" friends, he added.

Anyone who is rejected cannot then access the webpage of the person who turned them down.

However, a report published today about the nation's mental health says sites such as Facebook can protect older people from social isolation.

The two-year study by think tank Foresight warns that social isolation is contributing to mental illness at a cost of £77 billion a year.

It calls on the Government to make the ageing population a priority along with wellbeing at work and child development.

The report also warns that the cost of treating dementia could rise to £50billion over the next 30 years.