Search engines 'a waste of time'

Nearly two thirds of respondents said sifting through irrelevant data wasted their time, with 76 per cent calling for more personalised and pertinent information.

Of the 1,256 internet surfers surveyed, 63 per cent felt that fewer distractions from irrelevant links would cut down fruitless online search time.

A Mori survey released last August reported that the average internet worker could cost a firm £1,000 a year in unnecessary search time.