Turns out we just can’t stop gossiping on Facebook and Twitter every day

The water cooler is out as Facebook and Twitter are now the main hosts of office gossip. The social networking sites now account for the majority of the time we spend badmouthing people.

A survey from the US has found that we're all a bunch of gossipers. Most of us now spend at least an hour a day gasbagging and most of the time it's at work, which as we all know too well is a spot ripe for lampooning others. Close enough to our 'beloved colleagues' but with just enough disdain to make the mouth water.

Seven out of 10 UK citizens surveyed by Florida's Department of Citrus - yes, we were confused too - said that they gossiped for over an hour every day.

Lucy Mapstone, showbiz editor of MSN, told Press Association: "Sharing juicy gossip is a way for us to escape the monotony of our everyday lives, so we shouldn't feel guilty about doing it."

So, that's all nice and clear then. Our lives are empty unless we can badmouth the hell out of our co-workers and/or celebrities.