Facebook users are committing 'virtual identity suicide' in droves and quitting the site over privacy and addiction fears

Earlier this year, reports suggested that Facebook lost nine million active monthly users in the US and two million in Britain. Increasing numbers of Facebook users are quitting the social network in droves due to privacy concerns and fear of Internet addiction, according to new research.

They are taking part in what's been dubbed 'virtual identity suicide' and deleting their accounts. Analysis of more than 600 people, by researchers from the University of Vienna, found that data protection issues and social pressure to add friends were also among the reasons for leaving. Others quoted shallow conversations, general dissatisfaction and loss of interest in the site.