Household Digital Consumer Behaviour 2024

Introduction

This chapter looks at the use of the internet for online learning. Respondents were asked about online learning activities for educational, professional, or private purposes which they undertook in the previous three months.

Increase in both formal and informal online training in 2024

Key findings of internet users who used the internet in the last three months:

• Online formal training increased in 2024 – over one third (34%) of internet users reported doing an online course in 2024, an increase of nine percentage points on the same period in 2023. Males were more likely than females to do an online course (e.g. video tutorials (including YouTube), webinars, electronic textbooks, learning apps or platforms), with almost four in ten (38%) males doing an online course in 2024 compared with 30% of females.
• Using online learning material learning material and resources to aid their learning (including audio-visual materials, online learning software, video tutorials (including YouTube), webinars, electronic textbooks, learning apps or platforms, etc.) other than a complete online course, also increased – 49% of internet users compared with 36% in 2023 (38% in 2022). This form of informal learning was expanded in the 2024 questionnaire to also include video tutorials (including YouTube), webinars (including on social media). Learning apps or platforms such as Duolingo, etc. are included here also.
• Males were more likely than females to use this form of online learning – over half of male internet users (52%) compared with 47% of females using the internet.
• The 2024 survey data shows that there was a greater prevalence of this type of learning activity in households with children. Over half (53%) of internet users in households with children had used online learning material such as audio-visual materials, online learning software, electronic textbooks, etc., in 2024.
• Nearly four in ten (38%) of internet users had communicated online with educators/instructors using audio or video online tools such as Zoom, MS Teams, Google Classroom, Seesaw, Edmodo, etc., in 2024.
• Analysis of the 2024 data by age shows that 42% of the 45 to 59 years age group did a course online, while over one in five (22%) of older internet users aged 60 to 74 years and 7% of internet users aged 75 years and over did some form of online course. For persons whose principal economic status was at work, four in ten (40%) reported doing a course online, an increase of six percentage points on the same period in 2023. See Figure 5.1, Table 5.1, and PxStat Tables for comparisons with 2023.

Almost two-thirds of online learning for professional/work related purposes

Key findings of internet users who used the internet in the previous three months:

• In the 2024 survey, respondents who had online learning of some sort were asked for its purpose. Nearly two thirds (64%) said that it was for professional/work purposes, while over one third (35%) said that it was for formal education, such as for school or university, and 38% of those who had undertaken learning online cited that it was for private purpose.
• Analysis of the survey data by sex shows that males were more likely to partake in online learning activities for professional/work related purposes – 69% of males compared with 59% of females. Nearly four in ten (36%) of females had engaged in online learning for formal education purposes, such as for school or university, compared with 33% of males. Four in ten (40%) of males and 36% of females had participated in online learning for private purpose in 2024. Similar numbers of males and females had used online learning resources for formal education purposes – 36% of females compared with one third (33%) of males. Four in ten (40%) of males said that some or all of their online learning was for private purpose compared with just 36% of females.
• Of persons aged 30 to 59 years who had used online learning resources in the previous three months, eight in ten and over said that some or all of this online learning was for professional/work purpose, compared with just over half (55%) of persons aged 60 to 74 years who had used online learning resources. For this older age cohort, six in ten (60%) said that they had undertaken online learning activities for private purpose.
• Over eight in ten (84%) of people whose principal economic status was At work said that some or all of their online learning was for professional/work related purpose. Note that respondents could choose more than one reply option. See Figure 5.2 & Table 5.2.