Teens push e-mail aside for instant messaging

Dallas (TX) - Teenagers are turning away from e-mail as instant messaging becomes the primary means of cyber communication, according to a new study released by Parks Associates.

According to the survey, less than 20% of teens aged 13 - 17 use e-mail as the primary method of talking over the Internet with their friends. Instead, at least for 33% of the demographic, instant messaging takes over as the main means of communication among teenagers with Internet access.

However, Barrett says it's more of a matter of free time than it is age differential. "Once these individuals graduate and join the workforce, they may not have as much time to instant message," he said.

Mark Raby
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Mark Raby is a freelance writer for Tom's Hardware, covering a wide range of topics, from video game reviews to detailed analyses of computer processors.