Studies conducted by The Pew Internet and American Life Project have found that only 65% of teens use social websites nowadays, as opposed to 78% who play online games. AccuraCast reports.

Not too long ago, social networks were the hot favorite among this age group, along with email, which was used by 89% of teennagers at that time.

The latest trend, however, is to use text messaging and instant messaging instead of email, which is now used by only 73% of teenagers.

Significantly, young adults between the ages of 18 and 32 seem to be following the reverse trend, with only 50% of them playing games online while 67% access social networks.

Surprisingly though, it was found that only 10% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 years spend time in virtual worlds, which is almost the same percentage as was found a few years ago, and hardly 2-3% of the older generation do so.

Related:

– Kids say e-mail is, like, soooo dead – According to teenagers, e-mail is for business dealings. (2007)

– E-mail is last millennium, SMS is now. – Young people see it as a good way to reach an elder — a parent, teacher or a boss — or to receive an attached file. (2006)

– Teens turn away from e-mail – favor MySpace, IM and SMS – Statistics show that, for the first time, teen e-mail use is dropping in the — apparently in favor of more “instant” alternatives>. (2006)

The decline of e-mail was reported in South Korea as early as 2004:

– New Forms of Online Communication Spell End of Email Era in Korea – The perception that “email is an old and formal communication means” is rapidly spreading among them. “I use email when I send messages to elders,” said a college student by the name of Park. For 22-year-old office worker Kim, “I use email only for receiving cellphone and credit card invoices.” (2004)