Ofcom’s yearly survey of Media Use and the internet updates from the Office of National Statistics, show:
- 9 out of 10 of us use the internet in the UK (86% use it ourselves and about 4% ask someone to help)
- on average, adults spend more than 20 hours online each week
- 3/4 internet users (including half of those aged 55-64) have a social media profile (like a Facebook page)
- 4/5 of those with a social media profile use social media at least once a day
- most mobile phone users now use their phone to create and share content online – 54% take and share pictures and 29% make and share videos online.
In the UK, we increasingly use the internet to fulfil our public and civic duties and activities. Amongst internet users:
- 8/10 go online for information about public services
- 7/10 get information about their locality online
- 7/10 have filled in government forms online.
Diversity
The figures show men are slightly more likely than women to be internet users; and women are slightly more likely than men to use the internet for social media. The over-65s is the only age group in which only a minority of internet uses don’t also use social media. Research conducted in London suggests that ethnicity is not a significant factor in determining whether someone uses the internet or not.
Of the people who do not use the internet, we know:
- they are likely to be over 65 and/or less well-off
- about half of non-users see no point in using the internet, but the rest do want to use the internet to some extent – about one in three non-users asks other people to use the internet for them.
About one in ten internet users is either a newer or ‘narrow’ user – they are learning how to use it or only use it for one or two set purposes. These users are also particularly likely to be less well-off people or people over 65.
Trends in use
How we use the internet continues to develop. Current trends include:
- going online whilst on the move – two-thirds of us use a smartphone or tablet (though most of still use a desktop computer as well
- watching TV and films or listening to music online – rather than using TV/DVD or listening to radio or CDs
- using the internet for trusted applications – more than two in five of us regularly uses internet banking or pays bills online
- using phones for text communication – almost everyone under the age of 55 uses text messaging; more than half of mobile users send and receive email using their phone; six out of ten internet users use one or other instant messaging service.
Where Next?
Back up to the Social Media summary
Check out some Social Media before the days of the smartphone
Come on down to the Social Media Surgery…
OR – follow the menu on the right to have a look at other parts of the guide.