Real friends losing out to online mates

MANY people have hundreds of pals online but are losing touch with real-life loved ones, a study shows.

Two-fifths have not seen a brother or sister for 18 months and a quarter have gone two years without visiting grandparents.

Two in five have not met up with their oldest school pal in at least three years.

Yet many complain that they miss their family and friends and need to make more effort to keep in contact, says research into how modern life is changing relationships.

Nescafe, which ran the study, said: “Social media is great but real connections happen less and less.”