- Plusnet’s festive Top 10 websites show Xmas success for Facebook and Bebo -

Web users logged on to Facebook in droves instead of watching the Queen’s Speech on Christmas Day, according to a survey released by Plusnet today.

The internet service provider said the social networking site was the second most popular website among its customers on December 25, with activity starting to rise between 2-3pm, when the speech is broadcast. By 4-5pm it had increased by 25 per cent as broadband Britons contacted friends and family.

Facebook was beaten only by Google in the study by Plusnet, which analysed web usage and traffic over the festive period.

Another social networking site, Bebo, finished ninth in the festive Top Ten just behind the messaging and entertainment site MSN.

Shopping sites, including Amazon, iTunes, eBay, Argos and Play.com also proved big hits over Christmas and Boxing Days.

Neil Armstrong, Plusnet’s products director, said: “Social networking was very popular among our customers over Christmas, especially during the afternoon of the 25th.

“The study is a good illustration of how the web is changing the face of the traditional Christmas as more people go online for their fun, information and entertainment.

“People were very busy staying in touch with friends and family during the afternoon but their thoughts turned to seasonal bargains later in the evening with more logging onto the shopping sties.”

Other sites which were popular with Plusnet subscribers included the fun site www.noradsanta.org where web users tracked Santa’s progress. The Met Office site was another popular online destination as Britons logged on to see if there was going to be a white Christmas.

The full Plusnet Christmas Day Top 10 Sites were:

1. Google
2. Facebook
3. BBC
4. Amazon
5. iTunes/Apple
6. YouTube
7. eBay
8. MSN
9. Bebo
10. Microsoft

The full Plusnet Boxing Day Top 10 Sites were:

1. Google
2. Facebook
3. BBC
4. Amazon
5. eBay
6. YouTube
7. iTunes/Apple
8. Argos
9. Bebo
10. Play.com