People prefer talking face-to-face
Updated on 25 May 2008
Despite the rise of social networking websites and e-mail more people prefer communicating face to face now than ten years ago.
BT has carried out a new study with Ipsos MORI into people's usage of and attitudes towards technology.
Three quarters of us now use the internet to keep in touch compared to 44% ten years ago, and the number of people who favour e-mail as a way of communicating has risen by 6%.
More than 2,000 people were interviewed as part of the study, which revealed the popularity of using the phone has halved.
Just over two-thirds of those polled preferred speaking face-to-face rather than using any technology to stay in touch, compared to 51% ten years ago.
However, the number of people spending over five hours per week on the internet has more than doubled.
The BT 21st Century Life Index is set to be released in full in the next few months.
BT says our "lust" for getting information and shopping via the internet sounds the "death knell" for traditional high street traders such as travel agents.
Alnoor Samji, Director of Ipsos MORI, said: "The results from BT's 21st Century Life Index Report reveal how consumers have steadily shifted their communications habits over the last 10 years from exclusively voice and mobile, to email on the move - as well as much greater interaction with social networking sites - to help them stay in touch with friends and family."
He added that the increasing desire for e-mail access via mobile phones could mean the demise of the popularity of text messages.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
