SOCIAL media sites have become a huge part of daily life for most people, and can be extremely influential when it comes to current trends, fashion and music.

They are also one of the places we are most likely to hear breaking news reports, and in some cases have direct contact with your idols and celebrities if you are lucky enough to receive a follow back from them.

Note to Ryan Gosling: I'm still waiting patiently for a response to that friend/husband request I sent.

There are positive and negatives when it comes to the internet.

The positives are things such as access to Google on your phone, for example when you are out on a date with a guy who makes a funny reference to something you clearly don't understand.

The trick is to fake laugh loudly and uncontrollably to terrify him into going to the loo, so you can look up its meaning on your smartphone while he's gone.

The negatives are aplenty, although one very dangerous and common trait is that people think its an excellent idea to tell the world how drunk they are at 3am while scoffing chips and cheese in a taxi queue covering their £400 phone in ketchup and lipstick... or so I've heard.

Anyway, we all know social media sites can sometimes be the playground for the slightly unhinged, but this week something really lovely appeared on my Facebook timeline and I felt compelled to get in on the act.

In support for Breast Cancer Awareness, women all over the world have dared to bare, so to speak, by posting 100% natural 'selfies' with not a hint of make-up in sight to demonstrate that beauty is more than just skin deep - while also spreading awareness of the disease in the hope more women will get themselves checked out, and that much needed donations will be made in the quest to finally finding a cure.

Even celebs such as This Morning's Holly Willoughby and River City's Libby McArthur have shown their support by posting their pictures online.

I know some people have questioned this social media craze, asking why people aren't just simply donating to these causes without the fuss, but awareness is just as equally important as donating, and besides, I think there is also another side to this.

Rightly or wrongly I really struggled to pluck up the courage to put a make-up free picture of myself out there in the public domain because I know what an image- obsessed world we live in and how much pressure men and women place on themselves to look a certain way, especially our young women.

I think seeing these pictures can only encourage everyone to love themselves for who they are, not what they think they should look like according to the latest magazine advice or idol they see in a music video.

Well done to all the women who have posted their make-up free selfies online, and for more information on how you can help or donate please log onto www.breastcancercare.org.uk. To donate text BEAT to 70099.

WELL, I'm now a few weeks into my Active 2014 Campaign and so far it is going pretty well.

That's give or take a rogue couple of bottles of Chablis, two different alleged 3am pizza feasts (which, since I can't actually remember them, don't really count in my book), and one Buddy's burger extravaganza in which I declined from eating the bun.

But apart from all of that it has been vegetable juices and Body Pump classes all the way.

I've weighed myself and I've lost 7.5lbs in three weeks, which might not sound that much but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

I have to say I've really enjoyed going to the gym so far, and I'm starting to really get into a wee routine with it, even though someone tapped me on the shoulder the other evening while I was on the treadmill to ask for a picture.

Glasgow Club has some amazing facilities throughout the city and they are well worth checking out.

IF YOU are looking for a fantastic night out with lots of laughs then look no further than the wonderful Susie McCabe's Tourist Misinformation.

Susie is one of the funniest women in Scotland right now and after selling out last year's Glasgow and Edinburgh Festivals she is back with a bang.

I've seen Susie on a number of occasion and can't speak highly enough of her - and of course she's a Glasgow girl, which makes it all the better.

Susie will be performing at The Stand Comedy Club on April 2 as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2014.

For more information check out www.glasgow comedyfestival.com