Social networking surge

The number of adults signing up to social networking sites has almost doubled in the last two years, according to new Ofcom research.

It reveals that 38 per cent of UK internet users now have a social networking site profile – up from 22 per cent in 2007.

At the same time people are also becoming more cautious about sharing their personal information online.

Three quarters of those with a social networking profile now say that it can only be seen by family and friends – up from 48 per cent in 2007.

Credit card details

Millions of us are now banking, shopping and paying bills online.

But one in five (21 per cent) would never enter their credit card details online, and nearly one quarter (23 per cent) say they would never enter their mobile phone number.

Those who are more confident using the internet are more likely to be happy to provide personal information online, while older people are less likely.

Ofcom’s UK Adults’ Media Literacy interim report is designed to give an accessible overview of media literacy among UK adults aged 16 and over.

Internet take-up

It reveals considerable growth in household take-up of the internet among adults over 65 (41 per cent vs. 26 per cent) and those in low income households (51 per cent vs. 35 per cent).

However, these figures are still at a much lower level compared to all UK adults (73 per cent).

There are also some gender differences in what the internet is regularly used for.

Men are more likely than women to use the web for news, while women are more likely to use the internet for social networking.

Online TV

One in three UK adults who use the internet (29 per cent) are watching online or downloading TV programmes or films.

Of those, adults aged 25-34 are more likely to watch TV online or download programmes and films and almost all are doing so through UK TV broadcasters’ websites.

Read the full research

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