February 4, 2009
Young People Abandon Email in favor or Text Messaging
Studies conducted by The Pew Internet and American Life Project have found that only 65% of teens use social websites nowadays, as opposed to 78% who play online games. AccuraCast reports.
Not too long ago, social networks were the hot favorite among this age group, along with email, which was used by 89% of teennagers at that time.
The latest trend, however, is to use text messaging and instant messaging instead of email, which is now used by only 73% of teenagers.
Significantly, young adults between the ages of 18 and 32 seem to be following the reverse trend, with only 50% of them playing games online while 67% access social networks.
Surprisingly though, it was found that only 10% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 years spend time in virtual worlds, which is almost the same percentage as was found a few years ago, and hardly 2-3% of the older generation do so.
Related:
-- Kids say e-mail is, like, soooo dead - According to teenagers, e-mail is for business dealings. (2007)
-- E-mail is last millennium, SMS is now. - Young people see it as a good way to reach an elder — a parent, teacher or a boss — or to receive an attached file. (2006)
-- Teens turn away from e-mail - favor MySpace, IM and SMS - Statistics show that, for the first time, teen e-mail use is dropping in the -- apparently in favor of more "instant'' alternatives. (2006)
The decline of e-mail was reported in South Korea as early as 2004:
-- New Forms of Online Communication Spell End of Email Era in Korea - The perception that "email is an old and formal communication means" is rapidly spreading among them. "I use email when I send messages to elders," said a college student by the name of Park. For 22-year-old office worker Kim, "I use email only for receiving cellphone and credit card invoices." (2004)
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2009/02/022591.htm
| Tweet |
