Gays Find A Home On MySpace, FriendsterGays Find A Home On MySpace, Friendster

Non-heterosexuals use online social networks MySpace and Friendster significantly more often than heterosexuals, a nationwide survey showed.

In addition, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals use other well-known Web sites such as YouTube, Craigslist, and personal blogs more than heterosexuals, Harris Interactive said in the survey released Tuesday. Excluding e-mail, nearly twice as many GLB individuals than heterosexuals said they're online between 24 and 168 hours per week.

The numbers reflect a significant marketing opportunity for advertisers, Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications, says. "Social networks appear to be second nature for the gay and lesbian consumer," he says. Witeck-Combs, a marketing firm that specializes in the GLB market, worked with Harris on the online survey of more than 2,500 U.S. adults.

Fully 33% of non-heterosexuals surveyed said they visited MySpace weekly, compared with 28% of heterosexuals. On Friendster, the numbers were 11% and 4%, respectively.

More than one in three GLB adults visit their favorite blogs everyday, compared with less than one in five heterosexuals. In addition, 27% of non-heterosexuals spend at least one hour or less per week on YouTube, compared with 22% of heterosexuals. For Craigslist, the numbers were 20% and 13%, respectively.