New AP-AOL Instant Messaging Trends Survey Finds Majority of Teens Send More Instant Messages Than Emails.

More Than Half of Adults Surveyed Log on to Instant Messaging Every Day

DULLES, Va. -- According to a new AP-AOL Instant Messaging Trends Survey, nearly three in four (72 percent) teens who use instant messaging (IM) say they send more IMs than emails, as do one in four (26 percent) adults. The survey, which examined instant messaging trends and usage habits among 1,513 IM users, further revealed that more than half of adults polled (54 percent) log on to send instant messages every day.

The survey also found that teens like to use instant messaging to share photos (56 percent), as well as share music and video files (33 percent). Meanwhile, adults are more likely than teens to engage in audio chat (19 percent vs. 15 percent) and video instant messaging (17 percent vs. 11 percent) with friends.

"Instant messaging is a part of everyday life, especially among teens, who use IM to chat with friends, share experiences and stay in touch with family," said Marcien Jenckes, Vice President & General Manager, AIM & Social Networking, AOL. "This survey found that people are using instant messaging to share photos, listen to online radio and get more done each day. It's clear that IM is helping people better manage their lives and their relationships."

Top-line survey findings among users of instant messaging include:

* Nearly one-third (30 percent) of teens say they can't imagine living without instant messaging. Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to feel this way (36 percent vs. 23 percent). Northeast teens (43 percent) are more likely than their cross-country counterparts to be just as attached to IM. Nearly one in five (17 percent) adults say they couldn't live without instant messaging.

* Multi-tasking while online is very popular, as IM users tend to engage in multiple online activities while sending instant messages. Checking email is the most popular activity among eight in ten adult and teen IM users. After email, adult IM users most often conduct online searches (53 percent), while teens say they like to research homework assignments online (63 percent).

* More than half (53 percent) of teen IM users have used instant messaging to get help with their homework. However, less than one in ten (9 percent) have communicated via IM with a teacher or tutor.

* Teens and adults under age 30 are most likely to log on to instant messaging at least several times a day (44 percent) as compared to all other age groups. Meanwhile, 40 percent of young adult IM users (ages 19-29) send 26 or more instant messages each day, significantly more than older adults.

* More than half of adult male IM users (51 percent) send instant messages to people they've never met in person, compared with 35 percent of females. Further, 56 percent of single adult IM users do the same, compared with just one-third of married adults. Thirty-nine percent of teens have sent an IM to someone they've never met in person.

* Single adults are more likely to log on to instant messaging at least once a day (64 percent) compared to married adults (49 percent).

* One in four (27 percent) adult IM users say they send instant messages at work. Among at-work IM users, 59 percent send at least six or more IMs each day. More than one in four (41 percent) say that instant messaging makes them more productive in the workplace.

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Survey Methodology

Interviewing for the AP-AOL Instant Messaging Trends Survey was conducted online by Knowledge Networks among a national sample of 1,513 instant messaging users, including 1,013 adults aged 19 and older and 500 teens aged 13-18. Interviews were conducted November 30 through December 4, 2006. Users of any instant messaging service were eligible to complete the survey. Members of the Knowledge Networks Internet panel were recruited by telephone polling methods, and panelists who were not online were provided with Internet access. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points for adults and 5.5 percentage points for teens.

About the Associated Press 

The Associated Press is the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization, providing content to more than 15,000 news outlets with a daily reach of 1 billion people around the world. Its multimedia services are distributed by satellite and the Internet to more than 120 nations. For more information, visit www.ap.org.

About AOL LLC 

AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, runs the country's largest Internet access business, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC is based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at AOL.com.