UK Internet Trends
StumbleUponThe OxIS Internet Trends 2007 report is packed with information about the latest trends and statistics in online behaviour, and is required reading for anyone working in digital.
The report is free, and available to download as a PDF file here.
One area assessed by the research is the impact of the Internet on civic engagement and the success or otherwise of e-government initiatives. Easy access to political and civic information, direct access to MPs and the ability to easily self-publish and offer opinions have led to the view that the Internet is empowering individuals as political beings and overcoming some of the obstacles to participation.
However, if this is the case, it does not seem that it is through official channels that this increased engagement is taking place. While the number of people interacting with government online has increased to one third in 2007, this percentage is low compared to other European and North American states. Activism attracts very low numbers overall, with signing a petition by far the most common activity.
One tenth (9%) of Internet users have undertaken at least one civic action on the Internet, compared to two thirds (36%) of users who have done this offline.
The results show that age and lifestyle have a clear impact on the likelihood of engagement. Though retired people are the least likely to use the Internet as a whole - only a third of retired people are online - they are also the most engaged. While only 7% of employed people and 5% of students have signed a petition online, the number rises to 16% among the retired.
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