The Internet isn’t for an exclusive few like it was 20 or more years ago. Today, Australians spend more time than ever online. According to the nbn’s “Broadband Index” we’re spending 22 more days on the internet than we did two years ago.
It’s hardly surprising that different generations make use of an internet connection in very different ways.
The older generations are more traditional users, with email topping the list of use cases. That use drops to third for Gen Y, and fourth for Gen Z.
Instant messaging is the domain of the young:
Meanwhile when comparing those people connected to the nbn to non-nbn customers there’s a clear satisfaction among nbn customers.
People on the nbn reported being 28 percent more satisfied with their uploading speed, 29 percent more satisfied with their downloading speed and 26 percent more satisfied when it comes to reliability than those not on the network.
The nbn’s Kelly Stevens said “Using the internet has become part of our everyday lives and online multi-tasking is the new norm.
“Most of us are getting online when we open our eyes in the morning and before we go to sleep, while a quarter of us (28%) hit the internet when we wake in the night. Almost three quarters of us (73%) do it while watching TV, a third while cooking (34%) and some of us have even confessed to being online on the loo (33%).
“It’s unsurprising that those aged between 18-24 are online most throughout the day, followed by the millennials, then 35-54 year olds, with the Baby Boomers bringing up the rear. Families with children are the biggest users of the internet overall.
“While the internet is a great tool for communicating, how we do that depends on when we’re born.
“Email is most popular for Gen X and Baby Boomers, while those aged between 18 and 34 can’t get enough of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram to stay in touch; Social media is still popular with the older generations but Gen Z and Y scored more than 90% when it comes to usage.
“Gen Z are also keen on instant messaging platforms such as Facetime, Snapchat and WhatsApp to communicate. And about half of all of us are making video calls using platforms like Skype and Facetime,” Ms Stevens said.
It’s that multi-tasking that is a signal to the future. We’re using the internet while watching TV and cooking for crying out loud – this is a dominant part of our lives, that’s what makes the nbn so important.
