Internet more important than TV to Americans
New research has found that the internet has overtaken TV as the most essential medium in Americans’ lives.
According to a new survey from Arbitron and Edison Research, for the first time more Americans say the internet is “most essential” to their lives when given a choice along with television, radio, and newspapers.
Forty two per cent chose the internet as “most essential,” with 37% selecting television, 14% choosing radio, and 5% saying newspapers. While television still leads among those over the age of 45, internet dominates among those aged 12 to 44.
The new study also reveals that consumer use of social networking sites is not just a youth phenomenon. While nearly eight in ten teens (78%) and 18 to 24s (77%) have personal profile pages, almost two-thirds of 25 to 34s (65%) and half of 35 to 44s (51%) also now have personal profile pages.
The study also shows that 30% of Americans age 12 and older, who have a profile on at least one social networking website, use those sites “several times a day” compared with just 18% one year ago.
Last month, research from The Nielsen Company revealed that web users across 10 countries spent an average of five and a half hours on social networks in February 2010, up more than two hours from the same time last year.