«British 15-to-19-year-olds admit spending significantly less time doing homework than they used to as a result of their use of social-networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, according to research published today.

While teachers and parents will be dismayed, the 2008 Digital Entertainment Survey also makes uncomfortable reading for commercial TV executives. It shows that not only does a significant proportion of the important 15- to 19-year-old audience watch less television as a result of social networking, but that the vast majority of Britain's 15-to-54-year-olds fast-forward through adverts when they watch programmes they have recorded.The report, produced by Entertainment Media Research for media law firm Wiggin, shows the way the internet has changed working, reading and viewing habits.A balance of -21% of teenage girls and -10% of teenage boys watch less TV than more because they are using social-networking sites. A balance of nearly a third of 15- to 19-year olds say they are doing less homework, -30% among boys and -32% among girls. The survey also shows the growing "digital divide" between age groups. Whereas 55% of males aged 15 to 19 regularly browse social-networking sites, only 13% of 45-to-54-year-old men do the same.»

fonte: Digital kids ditch homework for networking The Guardian, 3/03/08