Information Society Statistics - Households 2019

Of the internet activities carried out by individuals in 2019, the most popular activities were Finding information on goods and services and Email (sending/receiving emails), both at 84%. The next most common internet activity was Instant messaging (exchanging messages, for example, via Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp and Viber) at 75%, followed by Reading or downloading online news (includes online news sites, newspapers or magazines) and Internet banking, both at 73%. See Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1.

There were notable differences in the type of internet activity between individuals in different deprivation quintiles. Online banking was used by 85% of individuals in the Fifth quintile - very affluent deprivation quintile, compared with 62% of internet users in the First quintile - very disadvantaged deprivation quintile. Similarly, 84% of persons in the Fifth quintile - very affluent deprivation quintile Reading or downloading online news in the three months prior to interview, compared with just 67% in the First quintile - very disadvantaged deprivation quintile.

Online activities analysed by age group shows that Finding information on goods and services and Email (sending/receiving emails) were the top two activities carried out by all internet users aged 30 years or older. Those aged 30 to 44 reported the highest use of Email at 90%, while 72% of the 60 to 74 years age group used Email. Over three quarters (76%) of internet users aged 60 to 74 years used the internet in the previous three months for the purposes of Finding information on goods and services.

Individuals aged 16 to 29 years were more likely to engage in online leisure or recreation activities, such as Instant messaging and Social networking (both at 90%), when compared to other age groups. Similarly, almost six in every ten (59%) of the 16 to 29 years age group used the internet in Uploading self-created content (including uploading text, photos, music, videos, software, to any website to be shared). This compares with just 23% of the 60 to 74 years age group. See Table 4.1.

Over four in every ten (42%) of persons bought or renewed existing insurance policies online (includes those offered as a package together with another service such as travel insurance offered together with a plane ticket). Half of all persons At work bought or renewed existing insurance policies online, compared with 31% for both Unemployed and Retired persons and just 16% of Students. See Table 4.2.