Study: Young people more inclined to choose social media over sex

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.Facebook or sex, what would you choose?

The times, they are a changin'. A study now out is creating a hubbub -- the hardest desires to resist seem to be social networking sites, not sexual relationships, CBS New York's Jennifer McLogan reported Tuesday.

Yes, social media over sex! Students are a-flitter over a Twitter and Facebook study that features an astonishing revelation: While the urge for sex is stronger, people are more likely to give in to the desire of social media.

"I think it's true. My computer charger broke and I was freaking out. [There are] so many things to do online -- checking e-mails, Facebook and Twitter," college junior Kristen Maldonado said.

The University of Chicago study that's "arousing interest" found that checking Facebook or Twitter is more alluring than sex for those immersed in the Internet age.

"I don't know if I would call it an addiction, but it might just be a new way of life for people," sophomore A.J. Sonnick said, adding when asked to get his head around the idea of giving up sex for Cyberspace, "I am still processing that one."

For seven consecutive days, 250 participants identified yearnings to interact through tweets, photos and comments as the most difficult stimulants to turn down.

More tempting even, than sex.

"If you had a window in your house, imagine just never trying to look out of it. So they feel it's there, they have to look at it," Hofstra University professor Jamie Cohen said.

Kenneth Spaeth, a doctor at North Shore LIJ, said he believes texting creates a false sense of belonging.

"It is easy and immediate. There's an emerging notion of 'fear of missing out' that's a draw for people, a powerful impulse," Dr. Spaeth said.

"Social media is so constant, that even more than sex? You gotta be kidding me," college senior Rick Rissetto said, adding when posed with the same choice, "No, not even. I would take sex over social media any day of the week."

Still many in the study said the Internet is cheaper and more instantaneous than sex and relationships.

The study also showed that the more the participants tried to resist social media, the higher the craving became.

This story originally appeared on CBS New York.

[SocialCarGirl]

This post is so true. It's funny thought, I am 33. I did not grow up with computers, in fact, my first email address was set up with my college and I barely used it. I didn't get my first computer till I was 23. My addiction started with online shopping. I could not get enough of putting victoria's secret bikinis in my shopping cart, then closing it out before it was time to purchase (although trust me, I have the worlds largest bikini collection). In 2008, when the economy got tough and I was fired from my job, I started networking ocn Linkedin. That was my first social experience. IT fascinated me. Since then, I have become addicted to networking, business, my career, and building blogsites. I can do it all day everyday. I have not owned nor watched a tv since 2008 and when i tried to buy one and got cable this year, i still social networked instead. In the car, I don't listen to music, I check in on foursquare. And every guy I have ever tried to date hates me bc They are jealous of the time I spend with my computer. I can't get enough. So much info..so little time. I think I'm in love with technology.

[Bojax39]

Funny how social sites are making us more antisocial.

[rider1956]

Kind'a like websurfing the news websites all day during work and leaving comments like this one. People are lonely and sex does not really satisfy. "People that need people are the luckiest people of all." Don't you remember that song from the early 1970's..... Here is where I change gears and start getting political. I know it. The computer protocals that enable the public to start the internet were created by DARPA (a federal defense project) but the explosion of the internet is done for pure capitalistic reason.

[DeMarkTrader]

This article title is junk..... it makes it sound as if college kids are put in a room with a computer and naked person and they are choosing the computer.

This title completely misrepresents the study and its results.

[tmittelstaed]

that depends on who the naked person is.