Parents using Facebook to keep track of their children at university

Around three-quarters (76%) of parents admit to regularly checking their child's Facebook profile pages to see what they have been up to, Endsleigh's survey found.

However, their efforts are being thwarted by many of the the 18 to 25-year-olds surveyed. Just 38% are friends with their parents on Facebook and 71% say they have deliberately chosen not to be because they do not want their parents to see personal pictures and messages.

Some 64% of those surveyed who have left home use the internet to keep in touch with their parents. Email is used by 29%, while 22% use social media and 13% use Skype.

Relationship expert Christine Webster said: "These days parents are becoming less anxious about their kids flying the nest as there are so many different ways to keep in touch, but they must be careful not to invade their privacy by checking up on them too much.

"However it seems nothing can replace the comfort of the human voice, which is why so many students still need to ring home for a regular catch up."

National Union of Students (NUS) president Aaron Porter said: "The internet and social media have become indispensible tools for students for both study and for life, but they are clearly no substitute for human contact at what is often a time of upheaval, during which many feel homesick."