KIDS, next time mum tells you to
stop spending so much time on the internet you might like to suggest
that she practises what she preaches.
A Nielsen study commissioned by Facebook found that, while students
were the heaviest Australian users of the world's biggest social
network, mothers were not far behind.
Almost 80 per cent of mums
in the survey admitted to using Facebook at least once a day and a
quarter relied on it as their No1 means of keeping up to date with
friends and family.
And, with four in 10 mums using smart phones
to access the site, it's little wonder more than 60 per cent are
multi-tasking - browsing Facebook while reading magazines, listening to
the radio or watching TV.
"By uploading photos, joining groups,
setting up pages and engaging with others, Australian mums are using
Facebook to benefit their personal and business lives," Facebook
Australia spokeswoman Mia Garlick said yesterday.
But there was a possible downside to an overuse of the social network by mums.
Researchers
at the University of Bergen in Norway yesterday released findings from a
study showing that women were more at risk of "Facebook addiction" due
to its social nature.
They listed six warning signs of possible
addiction, which included feeling an ever-increasing urge to use
Facebook, an inability to cut back on use and feelings of trouble or
restlessness when prohibited from using the site.
Mother-of-two Alison Lantry yesterday conceded she was "maybe a little bit" addicted to Facebook.
She said she logged on morning, noon and night to monitor her news feed.
But at least she has an excuse.
The
36-year-old used the site both as a social outlet and to raise
awareness of her boutique children's accessories label, Sophie &
Jack Designs.
"On a personal basis, it's a way of contacting other friends who are at home with their kids," Ms Lantry said.
"With the business, I wouldn't have started selling to people if it wasn't for Facebook."
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