Broadband now used for many different activities

Data from a recent report have shown that broadband is now used by consumers for a diverse range of activities with Brits now spending over seven years of their lives online.

A study that was carried out recently by the Internet branch of the Cooperative Bank, Smile, showed that on average Brits are now spending over seven years of their lives online, and this equates to over nineteen and a half hours per week on the Internet. The results of the study further showed that Brits were using their broadband connections for a diverse range of purposes and activities.

Around twenty three percent of people that responded to the survey said that checking and sending their emails was the most common activity, making this a popular use of the Internet. A further twenty percent of respondents said that they used their broadband connection to enjoy the benefits of online banking. Using broadband for access to social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace was popular with sixteen percent of respondents.

The findings from the research showed that there were also many other activities that were popular amongst broadband users, with popularity levels often depending on age and lifestyle. For example, it has been suggested that older broadband users, often known as silver surfers, like to access things such as news and finance sites via their broadband connection, whereas many other people like to look at things such as holidays, shopping, auction sites, etc.

The head of Smile, John Barker, stated: “The research clearly highlights that we carry out a diverse range of activities online. As the UK’s first online banking provider, it is interesting to see that people view online banking as the second most useful online activity.”