E-mail and text 'replace writing'

It suggests that half of written communication is by e-mail, 29% by text message and just 13% by pen and paper.

Among the over-65s, pen and paper remained popular at 39%, but among the young, the figure was much lower.

The IPA TouchPoints survey was based on 5,000 people who updated an electronic diary every half-hour for a week.

The research cost a £1m and is backed by the BBC, ITV and national newspaper groups.

It builds on the BBC's survey of Daily Life, which has been conducted every 10 years since the 1930s.

The results among those aged 15 to 24 who took part showed only 5% of their communications were by pen and paper, a lot lower than the older people.

Yet despite the growing use of the internet and other new media, most people still spend more time watching television and listening to the radio.

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