英國：網上社交成新潮流
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)
上周四公布的一項調查顯示，英國的「鐵桿寬帶用戶」花在網絡虛擬社交上的時間比在現實生活中的多。
在10500名受訪寬帶用戶中，約6%的人稱他們平均每周用於網絡社交的時間超過十個小時，相當於一年中有24天花在這上面。
而他們在現實生活中與親朋好友見面的時間一年只有22天。
提供價格比較及調換服務的uSwitch網站發現，有一半的寬帶用戶登錄過如Facebook、MySpace、及MSN Messenger之類的社交網站。
寬帶用戶用於虛擬網絡社交的平均時間為每周近三個小時，相當於每年六天。
網絡社交超過網上購物、網上銀行和下載音樂，成為最流行的在線活動之一，僅排在網上衝浪和發電子郵件之後。
女性比男性更愛進行在線社交，二者的比例分別為56%和46%。
在訪問社交網站的人中，近75%的人年齡在18至29歲之間。
一般英國人每周上網的時間為15.8個小時，相當於一年34天。
近800萬寬帶用戶支付的月寬帶費用在15英鎊至30英鎊之間，平均費用為18英鎊。
uSwitch網站的通信部主管說：「我們對於網民一年中有近一周的時間用於網絡社交的調查結果並不驚訝。各行各業的人都在接受這一潮流。」
該項由YouGov於5月份開展的調查共有10513名英國成年人參加。
Vocabulary:
broadband user: 寬帶用戶
