Ofcom have released details of how we now communicate in the United Kingdom.
Within the survey adults were asked what methods they used at least once a day to communicate with friends and family.
The results are below:
- The average consumer will now send around 50 texts per week which has more than doubled in 4 years. 150 billion text messages were sent in 2011.
- 90 minutes per week is spent on social networking sites and email or using a mobile to access the internet.
- Traditional forms of communication are declining with an overall average time spent chatting on the phone falling by 5% in 2011.
- Teenagers and young adults are leading the communication change/habits. Increased socialising with friends and family online and through text messages despite saying that they do prefer to talk face to face.
- The changes are also reflecting in the massive increase in ownership of connected internet devices such as tablets or smartphones.
- Ownership of a tablet has jumped from 2% to 11% in 12 months, whilst 1 in 10 adults now have an e-reader.
- Two fifths of UK adults now own a smartphone, with the same proportion saying their phone is the most important device for accessing the internet.
- Smartphones are encouraging online bargain hunting or researching offline and buying online. Over half of smartphone users claim to use their phone in some way when out shopping.
- UK households on average own 3 different types of internet enabled devices, such as a laptop, smartphone or internet-enabled games consoles.
