With a significant rise in the number of single elderly in society, it stands to reason that if old people are encouraged to get connected to the internet and use social networks they will feel less isolated and this will have a positive outcome for esteem and overall mental well being.

They will gain more self respect, keep up to date with the fast paced world we are living in but most importantly the incidence of geriatric disease will be reduced.

The most significant change in human health in the next decade may not come out of medicine but the likes of Twitter and Facebook.

A recent increase in the over 55’s using social networks is the most rapidly growing sector of usage.

Social networking can provide an easy opportunity for a ‘social fix’

A question to ponder after the previous points, perhaps it should be compulsory for the older generation to have a home computer to keep the grey matter firing and to delay mental deterioration.