Nearly Half of Users Browse the Web on Smartphones as PC Use Collapses 48% of users rely on mobile devices for web access

[nir]

48% of users rely on mobile devices for web access

Earlier today, I reported that smartphones have become the preferred shopping platform this past Thanksgiving, and now research data shared by British communications regulator Ofcom paints a similar picture regarding the use of mobile devices as compared to the traditional PC.

No less than 48 percent of the users turn to their smartphones to connect to the Internet, while only 9 percent of people still rely on desktop computers for the same task.

Laptops are the second in these charts with 24 percent, followed by tablets with 15 percent.

The PC use has declined every year, and in 2018 alone, it recorded a drop of no less than 2 percent. Back in 2013, desktop computers were used by 28 percent of the consumers to access the Internet. The total share of desktops and laptops five years ago was 74 percent.

Smartphones lead the online push

A total of 78 percent of the UK adults say they own an Internet-connected smartphone, while laptops and tablets are next with 63 percent and 58 percent, respectively. PCs are once again far behind with just 28 percent. Surprisingly, smart TVs have improved a lot and reached 42 percent.

As for what used do when going online, 69 percent said they are just browsing the web, while 66 percent pointed to emails as the main activity. The next in charts are online shopping, online banking, social networks, instant messaging, news reading, and video streaming.

Interestingly, no less than 45 percent of the Britons who participated in the survey and do not have Internet access at home said they don’t need it, while 17 percent claimed they don’t want a computer. A total of 15 percent indicated they don’t know how to use a computer.

14 percent consider the Internet too expensive, while another 14 percent responded they are too old to browse the web.

The full interactive report is available here

Source

[mp68terr]

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Sampling methodology

This is Ofcom’s first mobile research app, downloadable from Google’s Play Store. The research app was advertised on the Ofcom website and through social media...

 

 

The study is likely biased in favor of smartphone users.