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Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

How Google and Facebook are winning fight for the attention of UK internet users

By Dominic Ponsford

Google is winning the fight for UK internet users according to new research.

Data from Verto analytics suggests Google accounts for 16.9 per cent of time spent online in the UK.

It is followed by Facebook in second place with 11.2 per cent and and then Microsoft on 7.2 per cent (presumably due to the many people with Microsoft operating systems who are directed to the company’s news and information portal).

Apple services account for 5.5 per cent of UK internet time, the survey states.

The BBC is the top rated news provider, with 2.1 per cent of internet time followed by Oath (a combination of Yahoo and AOL) on 1.9 per cent.

Games publisher Activision Blizzard and Twitter also make the top ten.

Chief executive of Verto Hannu Verkasalo said: “Google and Facebook’s share of internet time and ad revenue is staggering considering the internet’s near-infinite long tail

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“Estimates say they account for 50-75 per cent of ad revenue but are hoovering up 80-99 per cent of every new pound spent. Thus, their share of revenue is double their share of time.

“That’s because they’ve been highly innovative and make it much easier for advertisers to spend with them, such as providing both measurement tools and economies of scale.

“In contrast, the likes of the newspaper industry, who rejected a joint ad sales venture to combat declining revenues, aren’t offering advertisers the same path of least resistance and effectiveness.”

Press Gazette’s Duopoly campaign highlights concerns that Google and Facebook dominance of online advertising leaves little space for news publishers.

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