Case have increased fourfold in Sunderland, Durham and Teesside, the areas of Britain where Facebook is most popular.
Professor Peter Kelly, director of public health in Teesside, claimed staff had found a link between social networking sites and the spread of the bacteria, especially among young women.
He said: “Syphilis is a devastating disease. Anyone who has unprotected sex with casual partners is at high risk.
"There has been a fourfold increase in the number of syphilis cases detected with more young women being affected.
"I don't get the names of people affected, just figures, and I saw that several of the people had met sexual partners through these sites.
"Social networking sites are making it easier for people to meet up for casual sex."
In Teesside there were 30 recorded cases of syphilis last year, but the true figures are expected to be much higher.
Research has shown that young people in Sunderland, Durham and Teesside were 25 per cent more likely to log onto social networking sites than those in the rest of Britain.
A Facebook spokesman said: “The assertion that Facebook is responsible for the transmission of syphilis is ridiculous. Facebook is no more responsible for STD transmission than newspapers responsible for bad vision. Today’s reports exaggerate the comments made by the professor, and ignore the difference between correlation and causation.
"As Facebook’s more than 400 million users know, our website is not a place to meet people for casual sex – it’s a place for friends, family and co-workers to connect and share.”
I seem to be missing the actual research here beyond some guy 'saying' it exists. It seems like one of those made up scares to get in on the social networking = peril to society trend with weak reporting.
The people to be blamed here are the ones indulging in these activities and not the platform (which was designed for a different purpose). How come no one attributed any growth of this to sites where people come specifically for casual encounters like adultfriendfinder?
In this case, maybe we should close down all schools and colleges across the world - how many casual encounters occur at these places?
Come one! Don't be so literal. The man is making a corelation beween sites & the std...not fb in particular. Its true to an extent...people do get addicted to fb & meet strangers & get into trouble. Seems simple & a tad ridiculous...which is exactly what meeting strangers is all about.
all you "poster's" seem to miss the point of the article is that people have been using "social networking" sites in other forms and has led to an increase in STD's. You seem to make lite of it, like it's a joke? Has anyone heard of Craigslist and read the problems there? George Weber was murdered by a "casual" encounter and he was not the first. Many people have been harmed, raped or killed due to their irresponsible behavior on these sites. Think of this as a learning curve and watch what you do for crying out loud.
That must mean water is dangerous. You know 100% of people who drink it eventually die.
Also, eating utensils can be linked to obesity.
Qucik - where is Al Gore? I am sure he will find a way to somehow relate Facebook to Climate Change.
Maybe ObamaCare has a healthplan for facebook that will further bankrupt the country?
Totally agree with what the FB spokesperson said! What a ridiculous claim.
"Research has shown that young people in Sunderland, Durham and Teesside were 25 per cent more likely to log onto social networking sites than those in the rest of Britain."
Sounds like Sunderland, Durham and Teesside have become a haven for those who use Facebook to book their tricks! LOL
There's nothing amiss about pointing to the preferred means of casual hookups as a factor in the dramatic spread of disease. Warn your kids about the danger of casual hookups, not Facebook.
When it comes to computer dating, don't forget to practice safe hex!
Professor Kelly also thinks Facebook is contributing to Man Made Global Warming. He used the same computer models that CERN used.
Facebook knows it's responsible as much as any free live chat service with a wide audience. Its part of the reason Yahoo got out of the live chat business - too many lawsuits over all sorts of mismatched behavior. Chat makes casual sex, easy, REAL easy.
Easier than the street, clubs, stores, neighbors, wherever. Chat unites people instantly ready to go the distance. Newbies need to know that chat people can not be trusted, and many are nuts, both female and male. Then again, some meet their true loves there, but the easy candy nature of it lures people back.
Don't blame Facebook because there are some over there!! Are you kidding???
My suggestion, practice "safe social networking," wear a condom when on Facebook.
That expert needs to go back to school!
So using facebook entices people to forget about safe sex practices? Complete rubbish.
by the heck... I'm going to close my account on Facebook.
I don't want to catch that!
Can you get off keyboards and stuff??
And remember kids! If you swallow bubblegum, it'll stick to your heart...
Its about time someone put an end to this nonsense!
I like the quote: "Facebook’s ... a place for friends, family and co-workers to connect and share". Of course some people are going to use it to "connect" in the biblical sense. How naive Facebook is.
This might be an interesting insight, might even be expected, but surely not independant variables.