London: Social networks, including Facebook, increase the risk of being exposed to "offensive behaviours and hate speech", which could have a harmful effect on users' mental wellbeing, a new study has warned.

Scientists, including those from the Sapienza University of Rome, explored survey data from 50,000 people in 24,000 Italian households which looked at internet and social network use, as well as self-reported levels of happiness and self-esteem. They found that social networks may threaten subjective well-being by eroding a user's trust in the rest of society with exposure to homophobic, racist or misogynistic content, 'The Telegraph' reported.