Half of internet users visit search sites every day

Using a search engine is a daily habit for 49% of web users according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Using a search engine is a daily habit for 49% of web users according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

The survey, reported in Mediaweek, says search is now second only to email access (which 60% of users do every day) as the most popular internet task.

The surge in search is impressive. Back in 2002 – when Google was still building its monolithic brand – only a third of all web browsers used a search engine every day.

During the same period, the percentage of users checking email every day climbed just eight points, from 52% to 60%.

The survey also found that 39% of users visit news sites every day, while 30% visit weather sites. Interestingly, despite the huge numbers of users joining the social networking wave, just 13% of users log on to those sites every day.

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