• by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, September 19, 2007

It looks like the long tail of the Web continues to draw a good deal of people's attention, at least according to a new report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

From genealogy to researching the prices of antiques, more people are now going online to pursue hobbies than in 2005, according to Pew. Almost six in 10 (59%) of 2,200 U.S. adults surveyed by Pew in February and March, said they spend time on hobbies online, up from 45% two years ago. Additionally, one in five U.S. adults pursue hobbies online in a typical day, up from 12% two years ago.

Pew's research also shows that online hobbyists tend to skew male, affluent and young. Thirty-two percent of men went online for hobbies in a typical day, compared to 25% of women, according to Pew. Thirty-four percent of people under age 30 go online for hobbies on any given day, versus just 17% of those 65 and older. Additionally, 36% of people with incomes over $75,000 pursue hobbies on the Web on a typical day, compared to just 20% of those with incomes less than $30,000.