Forget booze, we crave Tweets and Facebook updates more than booze and smokes, according to new research.

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That’s according researchers from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who say social networking on Twitter and Facebook are more addictive than substances like booze and cigarettes.

The research, which examined 250 participants’ desires, found it was next to impossible for them to resist checking their Facebook status or tweets on the under 140 character message site, that is Twitter.

And with the advent of iPhone and smartphones, this checking up (and checking in), updating status and tweeting about the lousy dinner you just ate on Facebook and Co is easier than ever before.

In fact, participants found it far easier to say ‘no’ to a drink than checking their online status.

And these Faceoholic tendencies get worse as the day goes on, noted Dr Wilhelm Hofmann, chief researcher involved in the study into human desires.

“As a day wears on, willpower becomes lower and self-control efforts are more likely to fail” – meaning by 3pm users will be dying to find out who has updated their Facebook status – far more than at 9am.

More sleep and sex were the two things participants longed for most. 

And it’s no wonder users are so addicted. Lets not forget the minimum age for Facebook users is 13 but no legal age limit on using social networks enforced by Gillard & Co, unlike drugs, (blanket ban), cigarettes (over 16) or grog (over 18).

Go into any restaurant in Australia (or the world for that matter) and you’ll see more people staring into their smartphones than talking to each other than ever before.

The research is published in Psychological Science journal, is fine and well but can Facebook make you do mad antics and make people better looking a la the old reliable booze?

We don’t think so.