Death by Internet

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/20/social_networking_heath_threats/

by astine • 17 years ago

9 7 17 years ago

go.theregister.com

endtime2• 17 years ago

A study published in Biologist, the journal of the British Institute of Biology, details...how the lack of real-world social interaction can increase your susceptibility to cancer, dementia, heart disease, diabetes, influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus - even the common cold.

When I read this at the top, I thought to myself, "Wow, I wonder how they showed that! Especially since one would think that isolation would, at least, decrease exposure to flu and cold viruses. I better scroll down and find out."

Then I scrolled down, and:

Other studies have proven that social isolation reduces the effectiveness of tumor-fighting cytokines. Sigman cites a number of studies that have shown that socially active women with breast and ovarian cancer produce more and more-effective tumor-fighters, including the charmingly named Natural Killer cells.

Sigh. Correlation != causation.

It gets worse. Women with fewer social relationships experience strokes at more than twice the rate of those with more social relationships, and those with smaller social networks have narrower arteries - approximately one-third narrower, to be specific.

No, it stays the same. Correlation is still not causation.

Real-world friendships help prevent heart attacks.

They don't even offer justification for this one.

kingkongrevenge• 17 years ago

> Correlation != causation

You obviously haven't read any of the source research. What point are you trying to make?

endtime2• 17 years ago

My point is that the article is poorly written. If there's real science backing up the article's points, great, but it sure doesn't give that impression. I don't have time to go off reading papers every time I read a bad article.

CalmQuiet• 17 years ago

TheRegister = Mainstream Media

=> Link Bait Headlines

Of course anything can be overdone. Generalizations included.

You really need to look at individual situations. Consider one "Osama bin Laden": I'm betting on (and he's banking on) social isolation hugely extending his life expectancy.

Tichy2• 17 years ago

I doubt that Osama bin Laden is socially isolated. Wouldn't he be surrounded by his "minions"?

dmpayton• 17 years ago

I think "socially isolated" => "isolated from society at large" which is, in this case, spot on.

Death by Internet

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