The internet - augmenting democracy and taking on the 'credit crunch'

A major report commissioned by BT reveals how communications have changed over the past ten years and illuminates what consumers expect from the next generation of technology.

The recently published BT 21st Century Life Index report takes a detailed look at how technology impacts upon all aspects of consumers’ lives.

In particular the survey, which was carried out by BT in conjunction with Ipsos MORI, highlights the significance of broadband’s arrival in the UK and confirms that fast, reliable internet connections have changed the lives of many of us forever.

Indeed, according to the report’s findings, Britain has become a nation of online shoppers. Half of us are regular online shoppers (compared with just two per cent a decade ago), a quarter of internet users in the UK have bought or sold items on auction sites like eBay, and a third have used online product or service reviews.

Other findings show that 44 per cent of internet users now feel it is easier to influence the media and politicians thanks to the internet while talk of a credit crunch is encouraging more and more of us to start using online price comparison tools in a bid to save money.

The results of the report have been benchmarked against a similar MORI study carried out in 1998. What’s clear is that many of the technological advances people hoped for ten years ago have become the reality today. For example, in 1998, online shopping was seen as a desirable service by 36 per cent of those surveyed while the ability to access information services was desired by 44 per cent. These numbers mirror almost perfectly how contemporary consumers are using the internet: Forty one per cent of consumers have shopped online in the last three months and 43 per cent have checked out information services.

Mobile phone versus internet

Yet despite the popularity of the internet, the survey shows that the mobile phone is seen as even more essential item. While eight out of ten Britons say they could manage to live without the internet, four out of ten of us admit we just couldn’t give up our mobile phones.

It also seems that e-mail has jumped in popularity since 1998 when only one per cent cited it as a preferred method compared to seven pent cent today. However, the dramatic rise in the popularity of social networking sites as a means of staying in touch could well indicate the popularity of e-mail might have peaked.

Describing their visions for the future, the survey’s respondents said they wanted a faster (38 per cent) and safer (27 per cent) internet. Many voiced concerns about the impact their use of technology is having on the environment. For example, 19 per cent want to learn to reduce their carbon footprints and 21 per cent hope to have fewer electronic chargers plugged in at home in the future. Similarly, many insisted they were looking to a greener future where they have just one device.

BT commissioned the 21st Century Life report in order to take the temperature of how people in Britain feel about communications services in the early 21st century and to learn more about their hopes and expectations of what we can do in the future. The report is available as a download. Please click here.