ONS-2018年英国互联网访问情况（英文）-2018.8-12页

Summary of Internet Access in Great Britain: 2018

Core Content

This document presents a statistical bulletin on internet access in Great Britain for 2018, highlighting trends in usage, devices, activities, and skills among households and individuals. It is based on data from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) and provides insights into how internet access has evolved over the past decade.

Main Points

• 90% of households in Great Britain had internet access in 2018, with a slight leveling off in recent years.
• Daily internet use has more than doubled since 2006, increasing from 35% to 86%.
• Weekly internet use has declined from 16% in 2006 to 4% in 2018.
• 77% of adults accessed the internet "on the go" in 2018, using mobile phones or smartphones as the most common device (72%).
• Email remains the most common internet activity, with 84% of adults using it.
• Online shopping has grown significantly, especially among older adults, who saw a threefold increase from 16% in 2008 to 48% in 2018.
• Smartphone security awareness is low, with 24% of users unaware if security software was installed.
• Most employed adults (70%) believe they have the required computer skills for their jobs.

Key Statistics

• Household internet access: 90% in 2018 (up 33 percentage points since 2006).
• Daily internet use: 86% in 2018 (up 51 percentage points since 2006).
• "On the go" internet access: 77% of adults in 2018.
• Smartphone users without security: 26% did not have it; 24% were unaware.
• Online shopping:
  • 78% of adults bought goods or services online in the last 12 months.
  • 48% of adults aged 65+ shopped online, up from 16% in 2008.
  • 35% of men and 29% of women purchased electronic equipment or video games software.
• Most common online purchases:
  • Clothes or sports goods: 55% of adults.
  • Household goods: 48% of adults.
  • Holiday accommodation: 42% of adults.
• Employed adults:
  • 83% of those aged 35–44 used computers or portable devices at work.
  • 51% of those aged 16–24 needed to learn new software or equipment in the last 12 months.
  • 70% of employed adults believed they had the required computer skills for their jobs.
  • 22% felt they had the skills for a more demanding job, with the lowest scores among 16–24 and 65+ year-olds (10% each).

Internet Access Trends

• Frequency of use has shifted from weekly to daily, with fewer adults not using the internet in the last three months (from 40% in 2006 to 9% in 2018).
• Device usage:
  • Mobile phones or smartphones remain the most popular for internet access (78%).
  • Tablets are more popular among adults aged 65+ (42%), but smartphones are preferred for "on the go" use.
• Internet activities:
  • Email and finding information about goods/services are the most common.
  • Online video consumption has increased significantly, with 46% watching on demand and 62% watching on YouTube or similar.

Methodology and Notes

• Data is collected from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN), with 2018 estimates based on January, February, and April modules.
• Time series comparisons are limited due to changes in survey questions over the years.
• The survey is voluntary, and data is based on self-reported usage.
• Some percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
• Differences in usage patterns exist between men and women, with women more likely to use the internet for social networking and health-related information.

Conclusion

The 2018 statistical bulletin highlights a significant increase in internet access and usage across Great Britain, with mobile devices playing a central role. While there are differences in usage by age group, the overall trend shows growing reliance on the internet for daily activities. However, concerns remain around smartphone security awareness and the digital skills gap among younger and older adults.