Time spent talking on the phone or meeting in person is dwarfed by the volume of texts, emails and social media contact that friends have, according to the research.
It found the average adult now carries out 65 per cent of their communication electronically via 140 texts, 72 Facebook interactions and 40 emails per month to friends and family, the Daily Mail reported.
The research, commissioned by print and post specialist Docmail, found one in four feel they rely too heavily on electronic media when it comes to staying in touch.
Dave Broadway of Docmail said: "It's clear to see that there is a heavy reliance on digital communication and that for the most part this enhances and adds value to our friendships".
"But the results show that many of us feel we rely on it too much and that it's actually changing the dynamics of our relationships," Broadway said.
"While we may be in more constant contact and have the ability to share and bring visual elements to our conversations, the time we spend speaking on the phone or even making the effort to see each other face to face is in decline," he said.
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Nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of the 2,000 adults polled have people they consider friends, but only ever contact them via text or on Facebook.
One third said they never go an hour without some sort of interaction with friends via Facebook, instant chat or text.
Indeed, more than half of those studied said their conversations are almost never ending, with texts or Facebook posts going back and forth over a period of days.
A text-happy 45 per cent have someone they describe themselves as permanently in contact with due to the sheer volume of electronic exchanges.
But two thirds feel the amount of online interaction fails to enhance their friendships and the same number feel they do not see people face to face enough.
In fact, 40 per cent hadn't seen their closest friend in over a month and more than half hadn't managed a phone conversation.
"The results show that when it comes to showing real meaning or wishing to display genuine sentiment, electronic or online tools aren't adequate and that traditional methods like receiving something in the post or face to face contact will always be regarded as more meaningful," Broadway said.