TV Watching and Net Surfing Go Together

By Geoff Duncan November 3, 2008

TV Watching and Net Surfing Go Together

It’s one of those lifestyle trends that’s been spoken about for years, but research firm The Nielsen Company is putting some numbers behind the idea. According to the company’s new TV/Internet Convergence Panel, the heaviest Internet users are also amongst the heaviest television viewers, and that over 31 percent of in-home online activity takes place while the user is watching television.

“It is too early to draw any firm conclusions about behavior,” said Nielsen’s senior VP for client insights, in a statement, “but the early trends seem to indicate that online usage is complementing, not substituting for, traditional television viewing. We will be watching this trend carefully to see how television viewing drives Internet usage and visa versa.”

The study found the top fifth of Internet users spend more than 250 minutes a day watching television, while folks who don’t use the Internet at all watched 220 minutes of television a day. The study also found that low levels of television viewing correspond to low levels of online use. Overall, nearly 60 percent of all panelists and more than 80 percent of the television watchers in the panels reported they watched television and used the Internet at the same time during the month.

Nielsen also found that about half the panel had viewed streaming online content, with some 82 percent of teen girls having streamed content, followed by 64 percent of teen boys, 57 percent of me aged 18 to 34, and 55 percent of men aged 35 to 55. teens were the most likely to surf the Internet while watching television, but adults aged 35 to 54 racked up the most minutes of simultaneous usage.

The panel’s sample consists of over 3,000 people in more than 1,000 United States homes.

[Just as a note: 220 minutes of television a day is over three and a half hours. No, we have absolutely no idea where people find time to watch three and a half hours of television a day.]

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Smart Home

How to save Ring Doorbell video without a subscription

Ring Doorbell mounted outside a front door.

Take a walk through any neighborhood, and you're bound to see a few Ring video doorbells installed next to front doors. The brand is increasingly popular, thanks to an ever-growing product lineup that makes it easy to find a device for all budgets and security needs. But one of the peskier features of Ring is the need for a Ring Protect Plan -- a monthly subscription service that unlocks the majority of the camera's most useful features.

One such feature locked behind a Ring Protect Plan membership is the ability to save Ring doorbell videos. Without a plan, you'll really only be allowed to view a live feed of your video doorbell. The plans are pretty generous, with the Basic plan costing $5 per month and offering video history for up to 180 days, making it a worthwhile investment for homes worried about their security.

Smart Home

Amazon’s Echo Pop smart speaker is 43% off, and it’s not even Prime Day

The Echo Pop sitting on a countertop.

Usually we see the best Amazon Echo deals around Prime Day or other Amazon sales events. However, today, you can buy an Amazon Echo Pop for a super low price of $23. It normally costs $40 which is already pretty reasonable so being able to snag one for just $23 is pretty great. A useful addition to any room in your home, let’s take a look at what to expect.

Why you should buy the Amazon Echo Pop
One of the best smart speakers around when it comes to value and functionality, the Amazon Echo Pop is a great little addition to your home. Available in different colors to suit the aesthetic of your home, the compact smart speaker offers full sound that’s particularly well suited for bedrooms and small spaces. It’s small enough to blend in while still being pretty loud.

Smart Home

Blink sale: Up to 42% off home security cameras and video doorbells

blink mini indoor camera white set in a living room blurred in the background

To make sure that your family is safe at all times, you should think about investing in video doorbells and security camera deals. If you're thinking about buying them right now, you're in luck because Amazon just launched a sale for discounts of up to 42% on various Blink devices. As one of the most trusted names in the home security space with their compatibility with Amazon's Alexa, we don't think stocks will last long for these offers, so it's highly recommended that you choose what to purchase and proceed with the transaction as soon as possible in order to pocket the savings.

What to buy in Amazon's Blink sale