Some 79 percent of Spanish-speaking U.S. Hispanics have used the internet for five years or less - but are already highly active online, according to a study by Claria's Feedback Research, writes ClickZ. Fifty-four percent of Spanish-speaking respondents make online purchases; 45 percent of those surveyed expect to increase online purchases within the next year.

Spanish-language sites are the preferred channel: 69 percent of Spanish-speakers visit sites in Spanish to buy and research products and are 49 percent more likely to buy from a Spanish language site.

Seventy percent are likely to read news and current events online, compared with 51 percent of non-Spanish speaking users. Chat and IM programs are popular with 49 percent, compared with 24 percent of non-Hispanics.

Thirty-eight percent watch and listen to video and audio files, compared with 24 percent for others, while 29 percent of Spanish-speakers download music, eight percentage points more than others.