SHOCK SURVEY: People hide behind email and computers rather than have face-to-face chats

Tell me something I don't already know and practise on a daily basis.

Stat-compiler FileMaker found that 82% of 16-18-year-olds felt confident in their computer skills, but only 64% were happy with their interpersonal abilities.

"In some situations it can be daunting to engage a person in direct conversation but it is hugely important when building relationships to be able to do this," said Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University - via email. "Relying on IT can restrict emotional engagement and can often lead more quickly to unnecessary conflict and misunderstanding,"

This over-reliance on technology could damage businesses in the future, according to FileMaker, as we'd all rather message each other than actually do the sort of proper chatting that glues humanity together.

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