Internet Usage Grows 75% In Twelve Months

The number of new Internet users rose sharply at the end of 1996, according to new research from BMRB. 7% of adults are now Internet users, which is equivalent to 3.4 million people and represents a 75% increase year on year. If this growth continues at the same rate, 40% of adults will be using the Internet by the year 2000.

While the first Internet users were young, male and upmarket, the Net is now becoming more mass market, though the early adopters still form a core group of users. In terms of usage, 16% of users look at timetables, 27% look at weather reports and 72% have used it to find scientific or academic information. 35% of work users have used the Internet to look at other job opportunities.

Shopping on-line is still a low-use area, with only 5% of users buying over the Net. This is due to concern over the security of credit-card information.

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