Humphrys is no friend of Facebook

MASTERMIND host John humphrys has many admirers, but he doesn’t want any Facebook friends. The Radio 4 Today presenter is resisting joining the social network.

‘ I get endless emails from Facebook ordering me — okay, advising me — to log in because “you have more friends than you think”,’ he says.

‘how annoying is that! how does an algorithm know who my friends are and how many I “think” I have? I’m well aware “friends” means something else on Facebook. But isn’t that the point? There is something truly special and life-enhancing about having real friends. But Facebook friends? It subverts the very notion of friendship.’

he adds: ‘You don’t have to keep in constant touch with real friends or send them fake flowers or “Like” their every post.

‘You may not even see them for a year or more — but they will still be friends in the real world.’