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Travel and Health are Year's Biggest Gainers Online
Travel planning / booking, and finding information about health are the two major growth areas in Internet use identified in the latest Harris Poll. The former is a frequent online activity for 26% of US adults, up from 15% last year, while the latter is up 6% to 21%.
Email (66%), research for work or school (46%), checking news and weather (43%), and getting information about hobbies or special interests (40%) continue to top the list of online activities in which respondents engage 'very often' or 'often'.
Other key activities are shown in the table below.
The biggest changes since 2000 are as follows:- Making travel plans or reservations, up 15 points
- Getting information about products and services, up 13 points
- Seeking information about local amusements and activities, up 11 points
- Doing research for work or school, up nine points to 46%
- Obtaining information about health or disease, up eight points.
It should of course be remembered that the total online population now is substantially higher than it was in 2000 (73% of all adults now vs. 49% of all adults in 2000).
'Thinking about what you do online, how often do you use the Internet, the World Wide Web or an online service - very often, often, sometimes, rarely, or never?'
Base: Adult Online Users
| |
Very Often |
Often |
Sometimes |
Rarely |
Never |
| To send or receive email (%) |
30
|
36
|
14
|
11
|
9 |
| To do research for work or school (%) |
18
|
28
|
19
|
10
|
24 |
| To check on news updates, weather, etc. (%) |
16
|
27
|
26
|
18
|
14 |
| To get information about a hobby or special interest (%) |
15
|
25
|
38
|
15
|
8 |
| To gather information about products and services (%) |
14
|
24
|
38
|
10
|
15 |
| To surf to explore new and different sites (%) |
10
|
24
|
34
|
22
|
10 |
| To make travel plans and reservations (%) |
8
|
18
|
25
|
18
|
31 |
| To obtain information on local amusements and activities (%) |
6
|
17
|
36
|
21
|
20 |
| To obtain information about health or diseases (%) |
8
|
13
|
38
|
26
|
16 |
| To pay bills (%) |
7 |
9
|
15
|
9
|
60 |
| To shop online (%) |
5 |
11
|
31
|
18
|
35 |
| To download or play games (%) |
6 |
8
|
14
|
18
|
54 |
| For financial management and investing (%) |
5 |
7
|
14
|
24
|
50 |
| To find and download software (%) |
5 |
5
|
18
|
26
|
46 |
| To search for a job (%) |
4 |
5
|
17
|
17
|
56 |
| To participate in chat groups (%) |
3 |
4
|
3
|
9
|
81 |
| To make phone calls (%) |
2 |
3
|
1
|
9
|
85 |
| To take courses (%) |
2 |
3
|
9
|
12
|
74 |
| To download music (%) |
1 |
8
|
10
|
16
|
65 |
* = Less than 0.5%.
(c) 2004, Harris Interactive Inc.
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'Thinking about what you do online, how often do you use the Internet, the World Wide Web or an online service - very often, often, sometimes, rarely, or never?'
Percentage of those saying 'very often' or 'often'
Base: Adult Online Users
| |
Dec.2000
|
Dec. 2003
|
Nov. 2004
|
Percentage Point
Increase / Decrease
2000 - 2004
|
| To send or receive email |
74
|
67
|
66
|
-8 |
| To do research for work or school |
37
|
45
|
46
|
+9 |
| To check on news updates, weather, etc. |
38
|
40
|
43
|
+5 |
| To get information about a hobby or special interest |
34
|
36
|
40
|
+6 |
| To gather information about products and services |
25
|
41
|
38
|
+13 |
| To surf to explore new and different sites |
24
|
32
|
34
|
+10 |
| To make travel plans and reservations |
11
|
15
|
26
|
+15 |
| To obtain information on local amusements and activities |
11
|
19
|
22
|
+11 |
| To obtain information about health or diseases |
13
|
15
|
21
|
+8 |
| To shop online |
N/A
|
22
|
16
|
N/A |
| To pay bills |
N/A
|
18
|
16
|
N/A |
| To download or play games |
13
|
18
|
14
|
+1 |
| For financial management and investing |
14
|
15
|
12
|
-2 |
| To find and download software |
N/A
|
10
|
10
|
N/A |
| To search for a job |
N/A
|
10
|
10
|
N/A |
| To download music |
N/A
|
N/A
|
9
|
N/A |
| To participate in chat groups |
6
|
5
|
7
|
+1 |
| To make phone calls |
N/A
|
3
|
5
|
N/A |
| To take courses |
3 |
6 |
5 |
+2 |
N/A = Not Applicable.
(c)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.
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Harris Interactive spoke to 819 US citizens aged 18+ between November 9 and 14, 2004. Respondents are those who say they use the Internet at home, work, school, library or some other location. The company's home page is at www.harrisinteractive.com
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