Survey says Canadians are connected

An overwhelming majority of Canadians are not only connected to the Internet, they are spending an average of 13.5 hours a week online emailing, reading and finding information.

According to a new study conducted by the Canadian Internet Project (CIP), 75 per cent of Canadians have a computer in their home and 82 per cent have been online at one time or another.

The study, which surveyed over 3,000 English and French speaking Canadians in the spring of 2004, aimed to understand the impact of online technology and partnered with the World Internet Project (WIP) to study the effects of the Internet on a global scale.

Canada is second only to the United States, with 72 per cent of Canadians registering as regular Internet users, compared to 76 per cent of Americans.

More Canadians (52 per cent) purchase products and services online compared to consumers in the United States, Germany, Sweden and Japan.

The WIP surveyed more than 20 countries for the analysis.

“This study provides a benchmark that will allow Canadian researchers to trace the development of the Internet over time,” said Dr. Fred Fletcher, co-investigator of CIP and Director of the Graduate Program in Communication and Culture at York University in a press release.

In Canada, Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia had the most users, while Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces had the fewest registered online users.

Over three-quarters of Canadians Internet users believe at least one half of the information online is accurate and reliable, although 18 per cent believe none of the information is accurate or reliable. A majority of users say they are extremely concerned about releasing personal information on the Internet.

The study found that Internet users spend less time accessing traditional media, like television, radio and newspapers, with users watching 3.7 less hours of television than non-users.

In terms of communication, 74 per cent of users believe the Internet has reduced their time talking on the traditional telephone, while 26 per cent of those polled engage in instant messaging and six per cent use chat rooms.

Reading newspapers, accessing national and international affairs, researching medical information, accessing travel advice and downloading music files are the most popular activities.

The CIP said this survey is the first in a series that will be taken every other year and in the future will include mobile technologies, delivery systems and other mediums.