What the Oxford Internet Survey can tell us

In a valuable contribution to the debate surrounding the 'Digital Divide', the Oxford Internet Survey (OIS) 2007 results have been released by the Oxford Internet Institute. This follows on from their 2003 and 2005 reports.

Some unsurprising trends crop up in the report, such as the increase in Internet usage, the greater use of broadband connections and the fact that you are more likely to use the internet if you are male, a student, educated to a higher level and have an above-average income.
However, there are also some interesting trends, beyond the 'Digital Divide', which are likely to raise questions about the direction of online scrutiny of M.P's, the internet as a wider communication forum and just how such a vast, fragmented and ever-changing web of knowledge should be regulated.

17% of internet users have created a profile on a social networking website in the past year. Considering the substantial growth in websites such as Facebook, which now boosts over 30 million members, this seems an accurate percentage of those online. Given its growing popularity among students (42% having created a profile), and the likelihood that they will continue to use the service as a way of keeping in contact with others, this is sure to grow by the time of the 2009 survey.

Barely a day goes by without Facebook itself hitting the headlines in the mainstream media, and it is increasingly being used as an investigate tool. The daughter of Rudolph Giuliani, nominee for the Republican nomination for U.S President, was recently challenged over her profile showing her as a both a 'liberal' and a member of a group supporting Democratic nominee Barack Obama. Many M.P's are also creating online profiles in addition to the many parliamentary blogs already being written. The effect this will have on UK politics has yet to be fully tested, but providing such platforms are used as an accountable tool, rather than just an online soap box, a useful contribution could be in the making. However, as the survey also points out, participation in civic society online remains low.

An additional debate that the OIS provides useful statistics on is that of Internet regulation. Caution seems to be exercised by those not using the Internet to a much greater extent than individuals who are actually online! 'Non-users' are more keen on government regulation and greater protection for children using the Internet. While the latter is certainly of importance, government regulation would have some users crying 'censorship' on blogs and forums before a law was even passed. If the OIS makes one point clear, it is that internet users are now in the majority, and should not be sidelined as too irresponsible for a spot of self-regulation. Although problems certainly do exist, the benefits are too great to be missed.

KC