Gaming accounts for 10 percent of time spent online in the United States - overtaking email - according to research by Nielsen, which doesn't sound like a lot but it is the second-leading reason, and one that's growing.
Social networking is first, accounting for 22 percent of online time, surging above the 15.8 percent share it held at the same time last year. Online games account for 10.2 percent of American time spent online, up from 9.3 percent at the same time last year, good for 10 percent growth - one of only three sectors that showed growth. (Streaming videos and movies grew by 12 percent but were in sixth place at 3.5 percent of time spent online.)
"Despite the almost unlimited nature of what you can do on the web, 40 percent of U.S. online time is spent on just three activities – social networking, playing games and emailing leaving a whole lot of other sectors fighting for a declining share of the online pie," said Nielsen analyst Dave Martin.
In terms of time, gaming accounts for 407 million hours spent online in the U.S. More details through the link.
What Americans Do Online: Social Media And Games Dominate Activity [Nielsen via Game Politics]