Broadband News

Social media 'more popular than TV'

Thursday 9 February, 2012

By Duncan Heaney

Facebook and Twitter a bigger draw than Midsomer Murders?

Television is so last decade - the cool kids are all about social networking now. That’s according to a new UK study by digital marketing agency Click Consult.

The company surveyed 1,300 people across the UK to discover which media sources we prefer to use for leisure activities. Almost three-quarters of the 16 to 24-year-olds polled said talking to friends online - through social media like Twitter and Facebook - was their favourite pastime, knocking telly down into second place.

The study also found that people in this age group now talk to friends through social media more often than with phone calls or text messages. In fact, they spend almost three hours a day using social media - regardless of where they are. Some even admit to using social media while on the toilet, in court or on a hospital operating table.

But it’s not just the youngest generations embracing Facebook. The survey found that TV and social media were equally popular among 25 to 34-year-olds, and almost a third of over-55s said they look at social websites before they flick on TV.

The study also looked at where the most social media-savvy people live. Users in London and Yorkshire came out on top when it comes to social media usage. Northern Ireland emerged at the bottom of the table, with only 20% of all participants choosing social media over telly.

Matt Bullas, managing director of Click Consult, said the research highlights the growing importance of social media in society. “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,” he said.