Majority of British internet users go online 'without enthusiasm'

The number of people in Britain who are using the internet has risen, reaching 78% of the population aged 14 years and over as compared with 59% in 2003. Yet according to the latest survey of British internet use and attitudes, conducted by the University's Oxford Internet Institute (OII), more than half of those who go online do it without enthusiasm. Nearly one in six (14%) users felt the internet was taking over their lives and invading their privacy. An additional one-third (37%) of British users had no strong feelings either for or against the internet and were described as 'moderate' in their view. Some 17% said it made them more efficient; 12% said they were happy going online; and 19% had mixed views, feeling efficient and happier but also frustrated, according to the report. The report, published today by the OII, is based on face-to-face s earlier this year with a representative sample of 2,000 internet users in Britain. One noteworthy trend highlighted in the report is a levelling off in the popularity of social networking sites, with nearly two-thirds (61%) of internet users surveyed saying they used them - an increase of only one percentage point from 2011 after explosive growth between 2007 and 2011.