One in 7 viewers get TV recommendations from social media – and 16% use social to discuss shows
Over a quarter (27 per cent) keep away from social media to avoid spoiling favourite TV programmes they are yet to catch up on, research from YouView has found.
The research, which states that one in seven people use social media to get recommendations of new TV shows to watch, found that one in 10 people between 18 and 24 said they found their best TV tips by looking on Twitter and Facebook.
One in seven (14 per cent) of the 2,000 surveyed told how they always flicked through Facebook at the same time as watching TV, while 16 per cent say they use Twitter while watching TV.
However, only 19 per cent of those asked were aware what the term “second screening” meant.
Susie Buckridge, director of product at YouView said: “There has never been a greater choice of TV available to watch and more ways to watch it on, so it’s interesting to see how viewers are clearing a path through the maze of shows being aired.
“Whether taking recommendations from social media or being influenced by family and friends, it appears the personal touch is the key to helping decide what’s worth turning on and what we should just switch off.”
It was found that six in 10 (59 per cent) of UK telly addicts now say that they take evasive action to avoid spoilers about TV they have recorded or wished to stream later on catch-up or on demand.