SOCIAL media may be on the rise, but most people still prefer their Christmas greeting to be on a card.

Research for the charity Traidcraft suggested that 77 per cent of British people preferred a handwritten card to other forms of Christmas communication. Only three per cent of the 400 people questioned by the survey firm Public Knowledge said that they would like a social-media seasonal message.

Speaking before the start of Charity Christmas Card Week, on Sunday, Traidcraft’s marketing director, Larry Bush, said: “Our survey has confirmed that a throwaway comment on social media is no replacement for a personalised, heartfelt greeting in the form of a handwritten Christmas card.”

Charity Christmas cards are estimated to raise £50 million each year. In the past five years, Traidcraft has donated more than £500,000 to SCIAF, CAFOD, and Christian Aid from its share of that.

The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, said: “I love using social media, but I think something has been lost in our increasing reliance on it to connect with people. A ‘like’ on Facebook, or a retweet, will never satiate the most basic of human needs: to feel connected, loved, and belonging to a tangible community.

“Making the effort and showing someone that you’ve taken the time to think of them is priceless, and will really show them that you care.”