Social networking impact on home insurance denied

A number of insurers have calmed fears among home insurance policyholders that their premiums may be affected by social networking.

With increasing usage of services like Twitter and Facebook, Confused.com had recently suggested that premiums may rise by ten per cent for people using these tools.

However, a spokesman for insurance company Direct Line, told PC Pro that, although homeowners should always be careful with their security, it will not affect their policy.

They told the website: When a customer applies for home insurance we do not ask them any questions, or provide assumptions for them to agree with regarding their use of social networking sites .

Malcolm Tarling from the Association of British Insurers also rejected any impact of social networking on insurance claims .

The issue has been in the news recently after Dutch website PleaseRobMe exposed the risks that homeowners could be taking by posting personal information on sites like Twitter as well as geo-location services that could show when they are not home .