I've agreed to put my life in the hands of nearly 2,000 complete strangers in the belief that their support, goodwill and generosity will propel me across the globe. Equally, I could spend two days contracting pneumonia on a park bench in Byker. This is the life that awaits me when I adopt my alter-ego of the Twitchhiker on 1 March. As you may have guessed by the less-than-creative name, the challenge owes its origins to Twitter, the social networking service seeping into the mainstream consciousness.

"Do people really live the lives they portray on Facebook? The answer is-partially... because most people share selectively.  For example, have you ever posted something on Facebook then checked back later to see how many people "liked" your post? If you have, don´t worry, you are in good company. For most people, Facebook sharing is not selfish, it is social. That is why we call it social media."