CALL me old-fashioned if you like, and I am sure you will, but I find this fascination with social networking and chatting on the internet dangerous and worrying.

There’s nothing wrong, of course, with having the odd conversation online, and there are marvellous inventions whereby you can make a live video call for free to a loved one anywhere in the world.

So I am not against progress as such. What concerns me, however, is this trend for people to now avoid physical interaction and just converse all day on the internet, often anonymously.

They can say the most hideous things in public, without ever having to worry about being identified or being accountable for their poisonous words.

Similarly, they can indulge their ego on social networking sites by telling the world (as if anyone cares) what their mood is for the day or what their views are on world peace.

As I said, not all of this is a bad thing, but it has spawned an idle generation of anti-social egomaniacs who believe the world is at their beck and call at the touch of a keyboard, and they never have to leave their home or give away their real identity.

This was all summed up by the story this week about the internet site swamped by users praising the killer Raoul Moat, and labelling him a ‘legend’. Would these ‘writers’ have said this in real life if they had to give their real name and actually stand up and be counted for their beliefs?

I very much doubt it. And sadly I believe society will pay dearly for this warped use of fabulous technology.