Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

More Russians go online amidst self-isolation

MOSCOW, April 07, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to the Birthday of Runet, a Russian segment of the World Wide Web.

Today 82% of Russians are engaged with digital environment. Seventy-one percent of respondents use the Internet on a daily basis; almost one in ten Russians use it several times a week (7%); 18% do not use the Internet.

Amidst self-isolation, certain Internet usage patterns have changed.

Compared to February 2020, there has been a 6-point increase in the number of those who use the Internet to get news about their city, country or the world (89% vs. 83%).

The number of those who use the Internet for online banking has also increased (78% vs. 72% in February). Only one in ten users do not do banking (9%).

The share of Russians who use the Internet for education or self-education has also increased by 6 p.p. since February this year, reaching 69%.

Most of respondents go online to communicate with friends, relatives (89%); this share is close to the February percentage (-10 p.p. compared to 2018).

The Internet is also used for leisure and entertainment: 77% of respondents watch movies, play games and read books online; this share was smaller two years ago (71%).

The share of those who buy everyday essentials and durables (domestic appliances, furniture) via the Internet has not changed much (26% and 39%, respectively).

 

 

Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 5, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers is used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

Do you use the Internet; if so, how often? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

1 qrt 2011

1 qrt 2012

1 qrt 2013

1 qrt 2014

1 qrt 2015

1 qrt 2016

1 qrt 2017

1 qrt 2018

1 qrt 2019

February 2020

April  2020

Almost every day

28

37

42

45

51

53

56

62

66

69

71

Several times a week

14

14

15

14

13

12

13

12

11

9

7

Several times a month

6

5

6

6

5

4

4

4

3

2

2

Occasionally but at least once every six months

3

2

2

2

2

1

2

2

2

1

2

I do not use it

48

41

34

32

29

29

25

19

18

19

18

Don’t know

1

1

1

1

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

 I will read a list of activities. Please, tell me what for do you use the Internet today? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of total respondents)

 

Year

I use the Internet

I do not use the Internet

I do not do this

Communicating with friends, relatives

2018

79

15

5

Communicating with friends, relatives

February  2020

88

9

3

Communicating with friends, relatives

April  2020

89

9

2

Getting news about city life, country, world

2018

85

12

3

Getting news about city life, country, world

February  2020

83

11

6

Getting news about city life, country, world

April  2020

89

7

4

Banking, online transactions

2018

68

25

7

Banking, online transactions

February  2020

72

17

11

Banking, online transactions

April  2020

78

14

9

Entertainment: movies, games, books

2018

71

23

6

Entertainment: movies, games, books

February  2020

75

17

8

Entertainment: movies, games, books

April  2020

77

17

6

Paying the bills

2018

60

33

7

Paying the bills

February  2020

68

22

10

Paying the bills

April  2020

71

21

8

Education, self-education

2018

67

25

8

Education, self-education

February  2020

63

22

15

Education, self-education

April  2020

69

19

12

State services  -- submitting documents, getting certificates

2018

57

33

10

State services  -- submitting documents, getting certificates

February  2020

57

29

14

State services  -- submitting documents, getting certificates

April  2020

60

28

12

Buying durables - domestic appliances, furniture, etc.

2018

41

48

11

Buying durables - domestic appliances, furniture, etc.

February  2020

35

45

20

Buying durables - domestic appliances, furniture, etc.

April  2020

39

45

15

Buying everyday essentials – foods, household detergents, etc.

2018

14

72

14

Buying everyday essentials – foods, household detergents, etc.

February  2020

24

55

21

Buying everyday essentials – foods, household detergents, etc.

April  2020

26

59

16

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.

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