Almost two in five holidaymakers no longer send postcards home, according to a survey.

Those on trips tend to use new technology, with 49 per cent checking and updating social networks while away, the poll by online travel agent ebookers.com found.

But half of those who checked internet sites said it was a waste of time, with 59 per cent admitting to spending two hours or more logged on. More than two in five of the 2,000 people polled admitted to feeling out of the loop, or bored, if they did not log on during a holiday, while 10 per cent felt anxious or lonely. Mobile phones (58 per cent) were the favourite way of accessing social network sites, of which the most popular was Facebook. Londoners were the most likely to log on while away and were also the holidaymakers who felt most lonely or anxious if they could not access popular online sites.

As many as 14 per cent of Londoners logged on for four hours or more while on a trip. Also, a total of 37 per cent of over-55s said they checked social networks while on holiday.

Mario Bounas, head of marketing at ebookers.com, said: “It’s fascinating to see just how dependent British holidaymakers have become on social networks to keep their friends and family up to date. And as a nation, our growing reliance on social networks is laid bare by the fact that many feel anxious or lonely if they can’t log in.”