Twitter can be used to identify lonely people at risk of health problems.
Scientists found they tweet more about concerns such as relationship issues, substance abuse and insomnia.
Loneliness affects one in five adults and has been linked to depression and heart disease.
Dr Sharath Chandra Guntuku, of the University of Pennsylvania, said: "If we are able to identify lonely individuals and intervene before health conditican help much earlier in their lives."
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