Appendices
Appendix B
Computer Usage Statistics:
Some 80% of British adults have accessed the internet, yet only 50% of households own their own computer. At the same time, just 10% of adults have gone online in an internet cafe - home use, friends, workplaces and educational facilities are all used by a greater percentage of people than internet cafes.
In the third quarter of 2004, 52 per cent of households in the UK (12.9 million) could access the Internet from home, compared with just 9 per cent (2.3 million) in the same quarter of 1998. At the same time, 55% of the adult population (aged 15+) in Great Britain used the Internet in September 2004 (up from 45% in April 2002), according to the e-MORI Technology Tracker.
In October 2004, 61 per cent of adults in Great Britain had used the Internet in the three months prior to interview. Just over half (55 per cent) of these adults had bought or ordered goods, tickets or services. A higher proportion of men (62 per cent) than women (48 per cent) had used it for purchases.
Of those adults who had used the Internet for personal or private use, in the 12 months prior to interview, the most common purchases were travel, accommodation or holidays (49 per cent), tickets for events (35 per cent), videos or DVDs, music or CDs (34 per cent) and books or magazines, e-learning or training material (33 per cent).
In October 2004, 34 per cent of adults had never used the Internet. Of these, 43 per cent stated that they did not want to use, or had no need for, or no interest in, the Internet; 42 per cent had no Internet connection; and 37 per cent felt they lacked knowledge or the confidence to use it. These adults were also asked which of four statements best described what they thought about using the Internet. Fifty-four per cent of non-users chose the statement 'I have not really considered using the Internet before and I am not likely to in the future'. This core group of non-Internet users represented 19 per cent of all adults in Britain.
Internet use also varies by age. It is highest in the 16 to 24 age group (83 per cent) and lowest in the 65 and older age group (15 per cent). In the two years to 2003/04 the greatest percentage point increase was among adults aged 45 to 54, increasing by 13 percentage points to 63 per cent. The lowest increase was among those aged 65 and over (6 percentage points to 15 per cent).
(National Statistics, 2004)
Internet penetration remains closely related to age and income, most popular amongst younger and middle age groups, and higher income groups.
Age profile of UK residential consumers (Q14 – August 2003)
* 15-24: 54% (49% in Q10 – August 2002)
* 25-34: 57% (46% in Q10 – August 2002)
* 35-44: 66% (58% in Q10 – August 2002)
* 45-54: 62% (57% in Q10 – August 2002)
* 55-64: 43% (30% in Q10 – August 2002)
* 65-74: 25% (17% in Q10 – August 2002)
* 75+: 14% (4% in Q10 – August 2002)
Socio-economic of UK residential consumers (Q14 – August 2003)
* AB: 77% (72% in Q10 – August 2002)
* C1: 62% (51% in Q10 – August 2002)
* C2: 50% (36% in Q10 – August 2002)
* DE: 25% (20% in Q10 – August 2002)
Household size (Q14 – August 2003)
* Small (1-2): 36% (29% in Q10 – August 2002)
* Medium (3-4): 66% (54% in Q10 – August 2002)
* Large (5+): 57% (56% in Q10 – August 2002)
Annual income profile of UK residential consumers (Q14 – August 2003)
* Up to £17.5k: 27% (22% in Q10 – August 2002)
* £17.5-30k: 62% (55% in Q10 – August 2002)
* Over £30k: 77% (74% in Q10 – August 2002)
(Oftel 's Consumers' use of Internet: Oftel residential survey Q14 August 2003 published in October 2003)