Brits prefer text over talk

Sixty-eight per cent of Brits have sent a text message to someone when a face-to-face conversation would have been possible, according to research.

Price-comparison service Moneysupermarket.com found that people in the UK are becoming increasingly reliant on text messaging and email to communicate with colleagues and friends.

Seventeen per cent of people questioned in the survey said that email was a more efficient way of communicating at work, and six per cent said that they'd rather text or email because they were shy.

Rob Barnes, head of broadband and mobiles at Moneysupermarket.com, said: "The ease of sending a text message or email means some people would rather do this than speak to someone face to face."

But when it comes to social situations, many still prefer face-to-face contact.

Three-quarters of the 2,000 people questioned by Moneysupermarket.com said they would ask someone on a date in person rather than by email or text.

"In some situations talking to someone in person can actually be easier, with less chance of misinterpretation. It's interesting in most situations, men rather than women would opt for communicating face to face," Barnes said.

www.moneysupermarket.com