Instant Messaging Now Tops E-mail Among Those Under 25



Dallas, TX -/November 3, 2006 - Wi-Fi Technology News/-Instant messaging has topped e-mail as the primary means of communication among U.S. teenagers with online access, according to "Digital Media Habits," a recent online survey from Parks Associates.

Less than one-fifth of people aged 13-17 use e-mail as their primary communication method with friends, compared with nearly 40% of adults aged 25-54. At the same time, more than one-third of online teens rely primarily on instant messaging to communicate with friends while just 11% of adults aged 25-34 favor this method.

"Digital Media Habits" finds this shift in communication habits is occurring against the backdrop of other changes on the Internet. For example, roughly one-third of all online teens use social networking sites like MySpace daily.

"We are seeing a generational shift in communication patterns, and e-mail is now old-fashioned," said John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. "Teens and young adults are increasingly accustomed to an always-on world where friends and family are instantly accessible."

However, the decline in e-mail use among teens may not necessarily be the technology's death knell. "Once these individuals graduate and join the workforce, they may not have as much time to instant message," Barrett said.

"Digital Media Habits" provides an in-depth understanding of digital media trends and monetization of those trends. For more information, visit http://www.parksassociates.com or contact Parks Associates at 972-490-1113 or sales@parksassociates.com. For more market research data, available through Parks Associates' Fast Facts site, visit http://www.parksassociates.com/fastfacts.

About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm focused on all product and service segments that are "digital" or provide connectivity within the home. The company's expertise includes home networks, digital entertainment, consumer electronics, broadband and Internet services, and home systems.

Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, multiclient studies, consumer research, workshops, executive conferences, and custom-tailored client solutions. Parks Associates is also a reliable resource for industry, local, national and international press, providing data, analysis, and insight on all aspects of the "digital living" markets.

Parks Associates hosts several fall events and co-hosts CONNECTIONS(TM) and CONNECTIONS(TM) Europe (in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association) each year. In addition, Parks Associates produces the publication Industry Insights two times per year in conjunction with the CONNECTIONST Conference series. http://www.parksassociates.com