UK Broadband Users Spend 34 Days Online Per Year
The average UK broadband user spends the equivalent of 34 days online every year, according to new research by price comparison and switching website uSwitch.com.
The research also reveals that 780,000 adults spend more time networking online than socialising in real life.
Whilst the average internet user now devotes two hours a week shopping online and a total of two hours a week banking online and downloading music, they now spend three hours a week – or six days a year – on ‘virtual’ networking.
According to uSwitch.com, half of all broadband users are now logging onto sites such as Facebook, MySpace and MSN Messenger.
Figures published by Hitwise earlier this week showed that Facebook saw its UK internet visitor numbers rise by almost 4% in June, giving the site a 16.6% share of the market (see Facebook Visitors Increase).
Steve Weller, head of communications services at uSwitch.com, said: “It’s very exciting to see Britain taking broadband by the scruff of the neck and making full use of the online world in today’s demanding 24/7 environment. The uptake of broadband in the past few years has been nothing short of explosive and this will certainly continue, especially with the constant innovation in the market.
“We are not surprised to find that the average internet user is spending nearly a week a year socialising online. We’ve seen huge growth in this phenomenon over the last couple of years – MySpace has reached over 100 million users and the second most visited site of its kind, Facebook, has 30 million members.
“Consumers from all walks of life are embracing the trend – while three quarters (73%) of those visiting social networking sites are aged 18-29 years, a third (33%) of the over 50’s are also taking part in the online phenomenon.”
David Evans, director at Continental Research, recently wrote a NewsLine column looking at how social networking sites could help brands develop (see The Impact Of Social Networking On Brands)
uSwitch.com: www.uswitch.com