A new study by the UK’s leading discount and voucher code website, http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has found that two thirds of Brits stay in contact with friends and family via social network sites more so than via face to face contact.
The research by http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk asked 1,186 people across the UK how they stay in contact with their friends and family and how often they meet up.
According to the results 66% of the respondents use Facebook or social networks to communicate with their friends and family more so than any other method. A further 23% use their mobiles phone.
Almost 1 in 5 of those asked, 19%, admit to only seeing their parents twice a month, however 29% communicate with their parents via social networking sites on a weekly basis.
The study by http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk found that the majority of the respondents, 52%, arrange their social gatherings via Facebook. Only 14% claim to have a conversation with their friends to arrange the details of their meeting.
When asked ‘which do you use more frequently to stay in contact with your friends and family; email or private messages?’ 54% admit to using private messages more so than emails, 39% of which say it is because they check their Facebook/Twitter more so than their email inbox.
26% of the respondents admit to only wishing their friends a ‘Happy Birthday’ via Facebook and a further 43% claim they would forget special occasions if they weren’t reminded by the notifications on Facebook.
A fifth of those asked, 21%, cited that they update their 140 characters on Twitter more so than their status on Facebook and a further 17% say they Tweet more in a day than they text on their mobile phone.
Mark Person, Managing Director of http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has said,
“No one can deny that social networking is huge and is becoming something that society depends on more and more, but it is a little sad that we now communicate with our friends and family online rather than popping over for a quick catch up.
He continued,
“Sites such as Facebook and Twitter are great for staying in touch with friends and family that may live far away, but they shouldn’t be used as a substitute for face to face contact. It can be difficult to remember everyone’s birthday, so those friendly reminders received on Facebook are definitely a nice little feature and are evidently useful for a number of people!”
LINK http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk
***ENDS***
For more information, please contact charlotte@10yetis.co.uk
EDITORS NOTES
Mark Pearson, MD of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 29, his personal worth is more than £30 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London.
MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £481m in the last year
Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £28m in 2008 to £52m in 2009.
MyVoucherCodes is the UK’s most popular discount site.
