- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 1
-
Sparkle (0)
The second annual Norton Online Living Report (available March 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM EST,) explores the way online living has changed social lives. The study came from Symantic, the makers of the Norton anti virus and secuity software.
The online living report is a large study with data from 12 countries and interviews with over 9000 parents and children. The survey results deal with safety issues, parental control issues, time spent online, relationships, learning benefits (or drawbacks) from online living, and how much value is attached to online living.
Seventy percent of people worldwide say that the Internet has improved their relationships. These results include the use of email, webcams, social networking, online photo sharing, Instant Messaging and Twitter-like services.
The findings show that family relationships, in particular, are improved with online use. Seventy-one percent report that keeping in touch is easier, 53% report it improves communication, and 45% report that family relationships overall are improved with the Internet. A small segment of that group, which Norton calls the "We Family" reports that family use leads to more satisfaction with family life and stronger family bonds.
The night life of adults is changed by the online world.
Nearly 60% of online adults have made a friend this way, and have an average of 41 online friends. Three in four have gone on to meet someone they originally met online in person, and 56% have used the Internet to reconnect with old friends.
The survey looked at kids online use from both the kids' and the parents' perspectives. The results were sometimes very different. This is unchanged from last year's survey, after which parents were urged to try to get a better understanding of what their kids were actually doing online.
Kids are now spending an average of 39 hours a month online. That's about twice the time online that most parents think their kids are spending. The report shows
• 86% of kids send text messages
• Kids spend 3 hours/week texting
• 73% of kids email from their phones
• 23% of kids use a Twitter-like service
• 93% of kids socialize with family and friends online
• Kids spend 5 hours a week socializing online, the same as adults
• 55% of kids have made friends online, and have an average of 37 online friends
With kids, the issue is often safety. One-third of kids report their parents don’t always know what they are looking at online. One in five parents have caught their child doing something they do not approve of online. Remedies like parental controls are in place in about one-third of all homes. However, 70% of parents are now actively talking to their kids about online safety.
• 7 in 10 kids have rules for Internet use
• 78% of kids say they always follow these rules; 4 in 5 parents agree
The report emphasized that online safety talks are not a one-time thing. As kids grow they become involved in different sites with new challenges. It's important to have "The Talk" about online safety frequently.
In terms of online security, most people—adults included—fall short.
The days when a virus scanner was enough to stay safe are long gone, but 79% of Internet users still rely on this to stay safe. Worse, 22% have no security software installed at all.
• 1 in 4 report a lack of confidence that their personal information online is secure
• 21% do not run virus scans frequently
• 33% do not avoid giving out personal information
• 55% do not back up their files
In addition, 50% visit sites that are not secure and do not keep their passwords secure.
The report gives three steps to ensure online safety. Point one is pretty obvious coming from an Internet security company, but all are worth consideration.
1. Choose a comprehensive Internet security suite including security plus backup. Antivirus is not enough for the average online user in today’s threat filled environment. Backup your irreplaceable photos and documents.
2. Use common sense – don’t use the same password for multiple accounts, don’t share personal information, don’t open or click on links in emails from people you don’t know.
3. Get a tune-up for your PC. You get a tune-up from your car at least twice a year, you use your PC as much so it makes sense to protect it from crashes and performance problems.
In spite of the dangers—the hacking, crashing and viruses—most people say having access to the Internet is worth the risk. When BlogHer took its benchmark survey in 2008, many women
