UK teenagers now prefer Facebook, Twitter to TV

Herald Globe (ANI) Thursday 9th February, 2012

Teenagers in Britain now prefer using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to pass time rather than watching television, a survey has revealed.

The study, which polled 1,300 people across the UK and was conducted by a digital marketing agency, Click Consult, showed that 65 percent of the 16-24 year-old listed talking to their friends via Facebook and Twitter, as their top leisure activity.

According to the survey, a third of the group spend more than three hours networking online at a time, in a range of locations, including hospital operating tables and court, The Telegraph.

The study found that the appeal of social media was also growing in older age groups, with nearly a third of those aged over 55, logging onto social media sites before switching on the TV.

"The social media revolution is not new, but for it to now take over from the nation's favourite pastime for the younger audience, truly indicates how quickly leisure habits are evolving in our digital age," the paper quoted Matt Bullas, managing director of Click Consult, as saying.

According to the paper, TV companies have been aware of this growing trend and are working on a number of options to try and engage younger people online in conjunction with TV programmes. (ANI)