MySpace rules social networking on either side of Atlantic

by Charlie McCathie , Brand Republic 16-Jan-07, 15:00

LONDON - MySpace has been identified as the most popular social networking site in the UK and US, according to research.

International research firm Telephia surveyed web users and found that 21% of UK social networkers upload content captured on their mobile onto MySpace, more than any other site.

In the US, the figure is even higher, with 32% regularly using the site in conjunction with their phone.

Britons also favour Windows Live Spaces , YouTube and Bebo , while Facebook and Windows Live Spaces are preferred in the U.S.

Social networking websites have taken off on both sides of the Atlantic with teenagers leading the way.

This age group accounts for just 5% of the total mobile population in the UK, but makes up 9% of all mobile social networkers. Bebo is particularly popular with 15- to 17-year-olds, with 40% of this age group using the site.

The age of US social networkers is similarly much younger than that of the general mobile population, with 69% of 15- to 17-year-olds using MySpace to upload pictures and videos.

It is expected that mobile social networking will develop further and more users will embrace the technology in 2007.

Reza Chady, Telephia's managing director for Europe, said: "Their insatiable hunger to be connected to their peers at all times, coupled with advanced camera capabilities is likely to lead to increased posting of user-generated content to such social networking sites from mobile phones, wherever the user may be."

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