- A study has revealed which of the sexes spends more time browsing online
A new study examining the difference in internet usage between the sexes has revealed whether men or women spend more time online.
Research conducted by digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation, found that one in ten Brits would cut back on food or heating rather than be disconnected from the internet.
The research shows just how vital Brits consider being connected to the internet is to their everyday lives, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to heap strain on the nation.
Women spend half their waking lives online, with three quarters (78%) using their phone more than any other device to get online, according to the research.
The average female is online for 7.7 hours a day, just over an hour more than the average man who is connected for 6.6 hours of the day.
Four in ten people also said they would feel ‘cut off from the world’ without any digital access.
Nearly half (45%) of Brits would find it harder to manage their household finances without the internet while four in 10 (42%) would find it tougher to pay their bills.
WhatsApp, Facebook, work and emails were the biggest uses of the internet among the 2,000 Brits polled.
Two-thirds (65%) of Gen Z (aged 18 to 24) use TikTok the most, Instagram was the biggest hit with Millennials (aged 25 to 34) at 40% and WhatsApp was most used by Gen X, with nearly half (49%) using that platform more than any other.
Some 2.5million UK households struggle to afford internet access with one in 14 homes having no access at all, and 10 million people who lack the skills to use it.
Helen Milner, CEO of Good Things Foundation, said: ‘Our findings show just how vital being able to use and have access to the internet is to people in Britain today. ‘Everyone needs internet access to participate in everyday life – to connect with opportunities, services like healthcare and loved ones.
‘We just can’t live without it – it’s very much one of our human rights. And it would take co-investment of less than £25 million a year from Government and businesses to halve the digital divide by 2030.’
The charity, which campaigns to end digital exclusion and get everyone connected, has helped a number of people get to grips with the internet, so that they feel more comfortable using it for important tasks such as banking and shopping.
One individual who has been helped in this way by Good Things Foundation is Julie Adams, 59, a volunteer worker and mum-of-two from Sheffield.
Many people who are unsure of how to safely use the internet are frightened by it, and Julie was no exception.
Before visiting her local Digital Inclusion Hub, Learn For Life, she had no idea how to use the internet.
She felt so uncertain about her lack of experience using the internet that she would not go online for fear of making a mistake.
‘I guess I was frightened actually,’ Julie said.
‘Because it’s the fear of the unknown. I was intimidated by it all. And I felt angry that I was being left behind – not everyone can afford a laptop and wi-fi internet.’
Julie did not know how to write or send emails, meaning she could not carry out potentially vital tasks online, such as booking a doctor’s appointment.
However, after receiving a free laptop paired with free mobile data, and support to learn how to safely use her new device and online services, Julie now feels for more confident and well-equipped to use the internet.
Julie said, ‘I was put in touch with Learn For Life, which has really changed my life.’
‘Without the data, devices and skills support, I would have been letting the world go by. It has really given me a new lease of life and a sense of freedom. Now I’m living life on my own terms.’
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
