Technology should be our servant but not our master, according to the Bishop of Exeter, who has urged people not to confuse virtual friendships with the real thing.
The Right Reverend Robert Atwell, who is the 71st Bishop of Exeter, said that things like Facebook and Twitter have made some forms of communication easier but were not a substitute for direct human contact.
Bishop Robert said: "The Queen has said that she is fed up of everywhere she goes there's a barrage of mobile phones and there's no eye contact.
"Isn't that sad? I think one of the things I'm genuinely sad about is that Facebook and everything else, like Twitter, is great, provided that it's not a substitute for real relationships and meeting people."
Bishop Robert said he believed in embracing all forms of technology – but that for some occasions, the personal touch was important and should not be replaced by email or social media.
"As a society, we have to have flexibility in the way we communicate. Modern technology is a great servant – provided that it doesn't become our master. I still write letters in my own handwriting to thank people. When every priest retires from this diocese I write them a personal letter. Or if their spouse has died. And doing that matters to me," he said.
"I have friends who write to me and I pick up the envelope and I know who it's from because I recognise the handwriting – there is no substitute for that personal contact."
At present, Bishop Robert does not have his own Twitter account, although the Diocese of Exeter does. He said that he does send text messages – something he described as "a little miracle" – and he announced his appointment to the role via a You Tube video.
"When I was visiting a school the other day, I did say to the children 'I think it's time for a selfie'," he added.
Latest figures show that there are 15 million Twitter users and 31 million Facebook accounts in the UK although growth levels for both now starting to slow with newer platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp starting to grow rapidly, particularly amongst a younger demographic that is focused on mobile content.
Bishop Robert was previously the Bishop of Stockport and was installed to his latest role in July.
He replaced the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, who retired in 2013.
