Facebook is a key feature in the social universe of young adults, particularly in the UK and Canada.

40% of UK adults, particularly those aged 25-34 year olds, use websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace to keep in touch with friends according to regulator Ofcom’s latest research.

Ofcom said that the relatively high usage among British adults was largely because of the greater number of women using the internet in Britain. Today, among people aged between 25 and 34, women account for 55 per cent of the time spent online.

BBC reports that The UK is eclipsed only by Canada where 53% of internet users go on social networking sites.

In Japan and the US the percentage is 32% and 34% respectively.