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Australia ranked first globally on the average time each person spent on social networking web sites in December according to a survey conducted by The Nielsen Company. 

The survey result showed that the average Australian spent almost 7 hours on their social media accounts in December. Ranked second with six hours, nine minutes and third with six hours and eight minutes were the United States and the United Kingdom respectively.  

According to the survey, the average time spent globally on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites was five and a half hours in December 2009, a whooping 82 per cent increase compared to the December 2008 average time which was only three hours.  

The report also showed other information on the online usage of Australian internet users. Among the pertinent facts is the increase in the average hours weekly for online usage from 47 to 57 and the increase in the number of online shoppers to 86% from 83%. 

In addition, the number of bloggers increased from 23% of all internet users in mid-2008 to 27% as of mid-2009. More competition resulting to innovation was another noted online behaviour. 

Revenue from online advertising increased by 27% to reach $1.7 billion by end of 2008 as compared to 2007. 

Close to 2.3 million Australians read online news on sites such as the Australian.com.au or news.com.au