A Facebook Christmas

Social networking site Facebook saw its largest-ever number of UK visitors on Christmas day 2008, according to Hitwise.

The firm revealed that one in every 22 internet visits were to Facebook, giving it a market share of 4.65 per cent - second only to Google with 8.64 per cent.

It was only Hitwise that reported this popularity - internet service provider Plusnet reported that traffic to the site started growing between 14:00 and 15:00 - the hour before the Queen’s speech is broadcast.

By 17:00, the amount of users on Facebook had risen by a quarter.

“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,” said Neil Armstrong, Plusnet’s products director.

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

Hitwise’s research also found that YouTube received more visitors than Windows Live Mail during the Christmas week - the first time this had happened.