As the Internet is developing, more Russians recognize its importance. However, every forth believes that the Internet brings more harm than good.
MOSCOW, May 20, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning how many Russians use the Internet; what they think about its development; whether the Internet is harmful or not; why Russians think like that.
The share of the Internet users keeps growing in Russia: it reached 66% by April (September 2012 – 60%); remarkably, the share of the active users, those who use the Internet every day, is growing (from 36 to 41% over a year). Those who use the World Wide Web every day are Russians aged 18-24 (76%) and persons with high level of education (59%).
Over the recent decade the confidence that the development of the Internet is socially beneficial has strengthened: whereas in 2002 45% of Russians thought so, today this share is 54%. Those who think so are mainly persons who use the Internet every day (75%), Russians aged 18-24 (72%), persons with high level of education (64%), and metropolitan residents (63%).
The basic argument of those who support the development of the Internet is quick access to the information (71%). They say that the Internet allows communicating and meeting new people (21%); it makes it easier to pay and to order (7%); it provides access to movies, music and games (2%).
Twenty-four percent of Russians report negative consequences, because the information in the Internet is “empty” and harmful (32%). The share of those who think that the Internet has a negative impact on the young generation is quite big (26%). According to Russians, because of the use of the Internet people are lacking real communications (14%), spending too much time there (13%) and experiencing visual deterioration (11%). Some people say that children refuse to read and to walk (8%).
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on March 30-31, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you use the Internet? If yes, how often? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | IV. 2011 | IX. 2011 | II.2012 | III.2012 | IX. 2012 | III.2013 |
Almost every day | 5 | 11 | 15 | 23 | 30 | 30 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 41 |
Several times per week | 8 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 |
Several times per month | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
From time to time, but not less than once per half a year | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Never | 76 | 69 | 69 | 60 | 47 | 50 | 45 | 43 | 40 | 32 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
In your opinion, is the spread of the Internet harmful or beneficial to the Russian society? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2002 | 2013 |
Rather beneficial | 43 | 53 |
Rather harmful | 24 | 24 |
Hard to tell | 33 | 23 |
In your opinion, is the spread of the Internet harmful or beneficial to the Russian society? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | I use it every day | I use it several times per week/month | I use it from time to time/ I do not use it |
Rather beneficial | 53 | 75 | 55 | 25 |
Rather harmful | 24 | 13 | 23 | 38 |
Hard to tell | 23 | 12 | 22 | 37 |
Why do you think so? A) Rather beneficial (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who believe that the development of the Internet is beneficial)
| Why do you think so? B) Rather harmful (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who believe that the development of the Internet is harmful)
| ||
Quick access to the information, lots of information | 71 | Lots of trashy, poor information | 32 |
There are no limits when communicating | 21 | Children do not develop; zombieing; getting stupid | 26 |
It is convenient; payments, orders, time-saving | 7 | People stopped communicating in reality | 14 |
Entertainment; movies, music | 2 | Time-consuming | 13 |
Age of technologies; progress never stops | 5 | Health and visual deterioration | 11 |
Other | 1 | Children stopped reading books and walking | 8 |
Hard to tell | 9 | Virtual games | 2 |
| Other | 2 | |
Hard to tell | 5 | ||
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!