UK Loves The Internet, Says Ofcom

Levels of concern about the Internet have fallen substantially in the UK over the past six years, according to the Adults Media Use and Attitudes report published by independent telecoms regulator Ofcom today.

The survey of almost 2000 users has also found that people spend more time online, visit social networks more often, but about a quarter still have their personal data open for the whole world to see.

On the grid

Concerns about the dangers of the Internet in the UK have dropped steadily since 2005, according to a survey conducted by Ofcom. Just half of respondents were worried about being online in 2011, compared to seven in ten in 2005.

The average user now says they are online for over 15 hours each week, five hours more than in 2005. With increasing popularity of smartphones and better data plans, the UK has embraced the Internet on-the-go, and 79 percent of adults now go online on any device in any location.

Three in five adult Internet users in the UK have a profile on a social networking site. Out of those who have profiles, two-thirds say they are visiting Facebook and similar sites every day – up from one-third in 2007. Accessing social media on a weekly basis through a mobile phone has almost doubled in the last year.

However, the increased use of the web has its risks, underestimated by many users.  A quarter of social networkers in the UK say their personal information, such as date of birth or hometown, can potentially be seen by people they do not know. Furthermore, about one in six users of social networking sites say they share their contact details with jut about anyone.

Chatting about my generation

The research also finds that while most users are aware of terms and conditions and privacy statements on websites, 24 percent say they never actually read them.

Unsurprisingly, young people are less likely to read terms and conditions on a website. Some 35 percent of 16-24s do not read them compared to only 14 per cent of those aged over 65. At the same time, those aged 16-24 are least likely to make a judgement about a website before entering their personal data. This makes young Internet users a particular risk category.

Three in ten Internet enthusiasts said they have had a virus on their home PC in the past twelve months, with a similar number receiving phishing emails. It seems like most people have realised the importance of anti-virus protection. Almost nine out of ten users who connect through a PC said they have security software installed on their home computers.

UK adults are increasingly recognising the Internet as a good source of information. Almost seven in ten have accessed the net to find details about public services, compared to just half in 2005, and eight in ten have looked online for information about leisure time activities.

Dependency on the Internet has also increased – with the proportion of adults who would miss using the Internet more than any other computer function doubling in six years, up from eight percent to 17 by 2011.

However, the Internet revolution doesn’t seem to concern the seniors. Those aged over 65 are less likely than other age-groups to be online – with half saying they have no need for the Internet connection at home.

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