Almost 90 per cent of US internet users spend a minimum of seven hours a week managing their email, social networking accounts and other communications, new research claims.

A national survey commissioned by the developers of Fuser found that 79 per cent of all internet users have two or more email accounts and at least one social networking account.

And more than 90 per cent of 18 to 21 year-olds surveyed have two or more email accounts and at least one social networking account.

The report found that 43 per cent of internet users belong to at least two social networking sites and that 66 per cent of users spend 10 or more hours a week managing their online communications.

"This recent survey validates what we all know to be true - that each of us spends a significant amount of time and energy managing multiple email and social networking accounts," said Jeff Herman, president of Fuser.

"The irony is that the majority of these types of communication media were developed to make communications easier and more productive, yet many users are feeling burdened by the task of managing multiple accounts."