From those 'bad experiences', the survey says that 'young adults were most affected, with 60% of those aged below 30 reporting bad experiences.'
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'If you're experiencing negative interactions with someone online, stop communication and block them from accessing your profile.'
What about using social networking to find love? The survey says that when it came to finding love online, 'one in four 31 to 50 year'olds revealed they had dated someone they met through a site like Facebook, while one in five had formed an ongoing intimate relationship through social networking.'
Dr Mathews added that: 'Being able to meet people online has opened up more possibilities for both friendship and love.'
Well, that's certainly true - some people use Facebook as an alternative to a regular dating site, checking up on potential partners just as recruiters are doing so with potential employees.
But back to the bad news - nearly 60% - a whopping figure if you ask me (although I am no psychologist) - see the 'time-consuming nature of online social networking'¦ as a disadvantage'.
Young adults also saw this as a 'major concern', with '70% of 18 to 30 year olds saying they wasted too much time online.'
Perhaps my jibe about social networking being social notworking has a ring of truth to it, confirmed by the socially networked survey respondents themselves!
Indeed, Dr Mathews states: 'While Facebook has become an integral part of modern day communication, if time online is interfering with your life, and your relationships or work are suffering it may indicate a problem.'
So, what about some handy social networking tips?
The Australian Psychological Society has nicely prepared a special page on its site where such information is available.
There's plenty of good advice there about the types of things to post, how to use your profile in a positive way, how to be in control of your online interactions, how to protect yourself and more, so if you'd like to read them for yourself, please click here and have a read through for yourself!
