英国：网上社交成新潮流
Virtual networking overtakes real socializing for Brits
Hardcore broadband users in Britain spend more time on virtual networking than they do on real life socializing, a survey revealed Thursday.
Hardcore broadband users in Britain spend more time on virtual networking than they do on real life socializing, a survey revealed Thursday.
Some six per cent of the 10,500 broadband users questioned in the survey admitted spending on average more than 10 hours a week online social networking, the equivalent of 24 days a year.
This compared with the 22 days spent actually meeting friends and relatives.
Half of all broadband users log onto social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and MSN Messenger, the price comparison and switching service uSwitch.com found.
The average amount of time spent on virtual networking is nearly three hours a week, or six days a year.
It has overtaken online shopping, banking and downloading music as one of the most popular online activities. Only surfing the net and emailing is more popular.
Women use social networking sites more than men, 56 per cent compared to 46 per cent.
Nearly 75 per cent of those visiting social networking sites are aged between 18 and 29 years.
The average Briton spends 15.8 hours a week online, the equivalent to 34 days a year.
Nearly eight million broadband customers pay between ￡15 ($35) and ￡30 ($70) a month for the service, with the average cost standing at ￡18 ($42).
Steve Weller, head of communications at uSwitch, said: "We are not surprised to find that the internet user is spending nearly a week socialising online. Consumers from all walks of life are embracing the trend."
The uSwitch findings were based on a survey of 10,513 adults in Britain carried out by YouGov in May.
(Agencies)
上周四公布的一项调查显示，英国的“铁杆宽带用户”花在网络虚拟社交上的时间比在现实生活中的多。
在10500名受访宽带用户中，约6%的人称他们平均每周用于网络社交的时间超过十个小时，相当于一年中有24天花在这上面。
而他们在现实生活中与亲朋好友见面的时间一年只有22天。
提供价格比较及调换服务的uSwitch网站发现，有一半的宽带用户登录过如Facebook、MySpace、及MSN Messenger之类的社交网站。
宽带用户用于虚拟网络社交的平均时间为每周近三个小时，相当于每年六天。
网络社交超过网上购物、网上银行和下载音乐，成为最流行的在线活动之一，仅排在网上冲浪和发电子邮件之后。
女性比男性更爱进行在线社交，二者的比例分别为56%和46%。
在访问社交网站的人中，近75%的人年龄在18至29岁之间。
一般英国人每周上网的时间为15.8个小时，相当于一年34天。
近800万宽带用户支付的月宽带费用在15英镑至30英镑之间，平均费用为18英镑。
uSwitch网站的通信部主管说：“我们对于网民一年中有近一周的时间用于网络社交的调查结果并不惊讶。各行各业的人都在接受这一潮流。”
该项由YouGov于5月份开展的调查共有10513名英国成年人参加。
Vocabulary:
broadband user: 宽带用户
