| With the rise of social networking sites such as | | | | quite possibly yes. In recent years, the amount of |
| Facebook and a shift towards e-commerce, email and | | | | Christmas shopping online has rocketed while the |
| internet based news, it's almost impossible not to find | | | | shops on the high street have reported reduced sales |
| yourself living an existence that is more and more | | | | year on year. Although many shops now offer an |
| geared towards the internet. The benefits of the | | | | online equivalent as well as the traditional high street |
| internet are perhaps beginning to be outweighed by | | | | store, the closure of shops through a combination of |
| the negatives but as a new study in the UK reveals, | | | | falling sales and the recession is a big pressure on local |
| people who spend an increasing amount of time online | | | | people and the safety of their jobs. While high street |
| are more likely to suffer from depression and lonley | | | | shoppers can be safe in the knowledge that at least |
| and insular lives. So are we living too much of our lives | | | | some of the money they spend is supporting local jobs |
| in the ether or does the positive side of the internet | | | | and trade, buying online from abroad means less |
| outweigh the negative? | | | | money is being spent on home turf which collectively |
| Social networking is perhaps the biggest success | | | | could put a large dent in the economy. |
| stories of recent times and helps to keep millions, if not | | | | Another internet success story from recent years is |
| billions, of people connected right across the globe. The | | | | the rise of the price comparison website. With a |
| pros and cons of social networking are thick and fast | | | | growth year on year of 30-50%, price comparison |
| however and are regularly splashed across | | | | sites don't actually sell financial products but instead |
| newspaper headlines. Parents fears that youngsters | | | | compare prices on behalf of clients before telling them |
| are vulnerable from criminals is one negative, while the | | | | which vendors are best for them. |
| number of people being arrested for crimes after | | | | Whether looking for life insurance comparison or |
| posting incriminating evidence via social networking is | | | | researching prices for wedding insurance, there really |
| also on the rise. More recently, individuals working in | | | | is a site for everyone whilst consumers have the |
| high profile professions such as politics and medicine | | | | peace of mind inherent to using a FSA approved |
| have lost their jobs after posting sensitive or offensive | | | | service. When it comes to money however, the |
| information about clients and colleagues. Social | | | | internet is a haven for scammers and con-artists. |
| networking, it would seem, is a great way of keeping in | | | | Many consumers fall foul to email-based scams that |
| touch but should be used in an professional and | | | | often see people unwittingly handing over their credit |
| sensible way to avoid falling foul to recent trends. | | | | card details, only to have their accounts flushed of |
| The ease with which products such as food and | | | | funds within moments. When parting with money or |
| clothing can be bought online is a definite benefit | | | | seeking financial advice online, consumers are advised |
| experienced by merchants and buyers alike. But is | | | | to look for the FSA approved logo and are told never |
| favouring e-commerce actually damaging local | | | | to reply to suspicious emails asking for money or credit |
| businesses and the high street? Well, the answer is | | | | card details up front. |