Social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace could be used as a valuable recruitment tool according to almost half (43%) of users polled in a survey.

The majority of respondents (87%) from the survey, compl-eted by email research group emedia, believe there are also several business opportunities via these sites.

Other uses cited included networking (65%), exchanging ideas (58%), getting advice (44%), research (35%) and selling (31%).

A spokesman at the group said: “Respondents keep in touch with various contacts among their social network, including friends, colleagues and even clients or potential clients.

“Those surveyed use the sites for personal and professional reasons, with more than one in 10 using them as a tool for business purposes.”

Almost half (48%) of people using the sites admit to logging on to them while at work.

Nearly one in four (24%) users log in every day with half logging on several times a day. Up to 45% log on at least once a week.

However, half of respondents polled said they find advertising on social networking sites intrusive with 72% opting out of email newsletters.