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Project siteResearch on access, use and attitudes to the Internet in Britain based on biennial surveys covering (for example) digital and social inclusion and exclusion, mobile use, social media, safety and privacy concerns, Internet regulation, and behaviour.
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OxIS is the only ongoing survey of Internet use in Britain; there is nothing with the scope and continuity of the OxIS data. It describes how Internet use has evolved from the first survey in 2003 to the present day. It includes information on use of the Internet, attitudes toward the Internet and technology, demographic information, and geographic information. It surveys the entire British population including users, non-users, and ex-users.
It can be used to track rising use of the Internet, to study reasons for non-use, and reasons to cease using the Internet, among many other questions. There is no other survey like it in Britain.
Latest blog posts
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Estimating the Local Geographies of Digital Inequality in Britain: London and the South East Show Highest Internet Use — But Why?
Date Published: 1 March 2017 - 11:39 am
Authors: David Sutcliffe
Small area estimation techniques allow us to estimate Internet use in small geographies in Britain: the first attempt to estimate Internet use at any ... Read More Estimating the Local Geographies of Digital Inequality in Britain: London and the South East Show Highest Internet Use — But Why?
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OxIS 2013 top-line findings: Internet use continues to grow; big increases in low-income households
Date Published: 1 October 2013 - 3:00 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Released on 1 October by the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, the Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) 2013 Report: “Cultures of the Internet: The ... Read More OxIS 2013 top-line findings: Internet use continues to grow; big increases in low-income households
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More than half of the British people who use the Internet do it ‘without enthusiasm’
Date Published: 1 October 2013 - 2:01 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
[Press release – University of Oxford, 1 October 2013] The number of people in Britain who are using the internet has risen, reaching 78% ... Read More More than half of the British people who use the Internet do it ‘without enthusiasm’
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Grant Blank
Oxford Internet Institute
Principal Investigator
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Julia Lefkowitz
Oxford Internet Institute DPhil student
Research Assistant
Chapters
- (2014) "The Ubiquitous Internet" In: The Ubiquitous Internet: User and Industry Perspectives. Routledge. 11-34.
- (2014) "Social media and the news" In: Society and the Internet: How information and social networks are changing our lives Graham, M. and Dutton, W. (eds.). 135-148.
- (2014) "Next generation internet users: digital divides, choices, and ineqaulities" In: Society and the Internet: How information and social networks are changing our lives Graham, M. and Dutton, W. (eds.). 36-52.
- (2013) "The Emergence of Next-Generation Internet Users" In: A Companion to New Media Dynamics. Wiley-Blackwell. 122-141.
Conference papers
- (2011) "Social media in the changing ecology of news production and consumption: the case of Britain", International Communication Association (ICA) Conference.
- (2005) "The structure of e-government", Conference of the Communications Research Network.
Journal articles
- (2015) "Cultures on the Internet", Dutton, William H., and Blank, G. (2015), 'Cultures on the Internet', InterMedia, Winter 2014/15. 42 (4).
- (2014) "Dimensions of Internet use: amount, variety, and types", Information, Communication & Society. 17 (4) 417-435.
- (2014) Cultures of the Internet: Five Clusters of Attitudes and Beliefs Among Users in Britain.
- (2014) "The emergence of next generation internet users", International Economics and Economic Policy. 11 (1-2) 29-47.
- (2013) "The emergence of next generation internet users", International Economics and Economic Policy. 11 (1-2) 1-19.
- (2012) "The Participatory Web: A user perspective on Web 2.0", Information Communication and Society. 15 (4) 537-554.
- (2012) "Age and trust in the internet: The centrality of experience and attitudes toward technology in britain", Social Science Computer Review. 30 (2) 135-151.
- (2012) "Social media in the changing ecology of news: the fourth and fifth estates in Britain", International Journal of Internet Science.
- (2011) "Socioeconomic status updates: college students, family SES, and emergent social capital in Facebook networks", Information, Communication and Society. 529-549.
- (2006) "E-Government in Britain—A Decade On", Parliamentary Affairs. 59 (2) 250-265.
Reports
- (2013) Cultures of the Internet: The Internet in Britain. Oxford Internet Survey 2013. Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.
- (2011) Next generation users: The Internet in Britain. Oxford Internet Survey 2011. Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.
Internet publications
- (2014) No, digital natives are not clueless about protecting their privacy online. The Conversation.
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Trust in the Internet as an Experience Technology
Duration: 00:51:50
Date: 6 November 2006
Bill Dutton summarizes and discusses his paper 'Trust in the Internet as an experience technology' published in the journal ... Read More Trust in the Internet as an Experience Technology
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Next Generation Internet Users: Digital Divides, Choices, and Inequalities
Duration: 00:07:20
Date: 24 January 2012
Grant Blank summarises his lecture on how a new pattern of Internet access is developing through the use of ... Read More Next Generation Internet Users: Digital Divides, Choices, and Inequalities
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The Internet in Britain, 2011: Topline Findings from the Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS)
17 October 2011
Topline findings from the Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) 2011 Report: "Next Generation Users: The Internet in Britain 2011", presenting data on British access, use and attitudes to the Internet 2003-2011.
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Are you a Next Generation User of the Internet?
17 October 2011
The OxIS 2011 survey shows that nearly half of Internet users in Britain are 'Next Generation Users', who routinely access the Internet on the move using portable devices - more than double the proportion in 2007.
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Nominet Trust Sponsors Major OII Survey of British Internet Access, Use and Attitudes (OxIS 2011)
4 October 2010
Nominet Trust provides support for the 2011-2012 cycle of the OII's Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS), one of Great Britain's most in-depth and authoritative sources of information about Internet access, use and attitudes.
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Service Provision in the Digital Age: Notes from an Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) Workshop
23 June 2010
Notes from an OII-Scottish and Southern Energy Workshop on service provision in the digital age. Intended to inform the 2011 Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS), it explored the use and impact of the Internet in supporting business and consumer relationships.
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Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) 2009: Attitudes Towards the Internet in Britain
22 June 2009
One of the main challenges in creating a Digital Britain will be to change the perceptions of the third of the British population who choose not to use the internet, according to the latest in a series of Oxford University Surveys (OxIS)
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Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) 2009: Internet Use and Online News
22 June 2009
Oxford Internet Survey into how British people are using the Internet in 2009 suggests that the proportion of people reading online newspapers has doubled since 2007: 58% of Internet users said they read a newspaper or news online, compared to 30% in 2007
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Survey points up challenges for a Digital Britain
22 June 2009
In the wake of Lord Carter’s Digital Britain Report, an Oxford survey shows that one of the main challenges will be to change the perceptions of the third of the British population who choose not to use the Internet
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World Internet Project (WIP) Report Finds Remarkable Similarities and Significant Differences in Internet Use Worldwide
24 November 2008
The World Internet Project marks the first time that a worldwide partnership of research institutions has compiled survey data on the behaviour and views of Internet users and non-users
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A ‘digital divide’ exists according to Oxford survey on internet use in Britain
26 July 2007
The University's Oxford Internet Institute (OII) releases the OxIS Report 2007, the latest report in a series of Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) that examine internet access, use and attitudes in Britain
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Survey Data on the Internet in Britain Released by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII)
24 July 2007
The Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) 2007 Report 'The Internet in Britain' is released by the Oxford Internet Institute, the latest report in a series of surveys that cover the changing landscape of Internet access, use and attitudes in Britain
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The third national Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) is launched
12 March 2007
The OII launches the third wave of its national survey on Internet use. The Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) are unique in offering detailed insights into the influence that the Internet has had on everyday life in Britain since 2003
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OII launches Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS)
1 June 2003
The Oxford Internet Institute launches the Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS), a major nationwide survey about Internet capital: its causes, its uses and its consequences, linked to the World Internet Project, a set of surveys from over 20 countries
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Estimating the Local Geographies of Digital Inequality in Britain: London and the South East Show Highest Internet Use — But Why?
Date Published: 1 March 2017 - 11:39 am
Authors: David Sutcliffe
Small area estimation techniques allow us to estimate Internet use in small geographies in Britain: the first attempt to estimate Internet use at any ... Read More Estimating the Local Geographies of Digital Inequality in Britain: London and the South East Show Highest Internet Use — But Why?
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OxIS 2013 top-line findings: Internet use continues to grow; big increases in low-income households
Date Published: 1 October 2013 - 3:00 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Released on 1 October by the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, the Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS) 2013 Report: “Cultures of the Internet: The ... Read More OxIS 2013 top-line findings: Internet use continues to grow; big increases in low-income households
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More than half of the British people who use the Internet do it ‘without enthusiasm’
Date Published: 1 October 2013 - 2:01 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
[Press release – University of Oxford, 1 October 2013] The number of people in Britain who are using the internet has risen, reaching 78% ... Read More More than half of the British people who use the Internet do it ‘without enthusiasm’
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Proxy users in the UK: An overview
Date Published: 27 September 2013 - 3:11 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
In general, OxIS distinguishes between Internet users and non-users based on personal use of the Internet. Internet non-users are individuals who say they do ... Read More Proxy users in the UK: An overview
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Should government regulate the Internet more? Most Internet users say no; most non-users say yes
Date Published: 21 September 2013 - 3:04 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Internet regulation has become an increasingly controversial topic as governments have sought to deal with issues arising from the growing centrality of the Internet ... Read More Should government regulate the Internet more? Most Internet users say no; most non-users say yes
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Social network site use plateaus at 61% of Internet users
Date Published: 19 September 2013 - 3:28 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Social network sites transformed the online experience for many people. However, while these sites have experienced years of explosive growth, growth in the proportion ... Read More Social network site use plateaus at 61% of Internet users
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Why have some people stopped using the Internet?
Date Published: 13 September 2013 - 3:34 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
In 2013, 3% of British people reported being ex-users of the Internet. This is a slight decrease 2011 when 5% of the population were ... Read More Why have some people stopped using the Internet?
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Understanding the geographical variation of Internet activity across Britain
Date Published: 10 September 2013 - 3:38 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Britain has the largest Internet economy in the industrial world (measured as a percent of GDP; 8.3% in 2012), and the Internet is an increasingly ... Read More Understanding the geographical variation of Internet activity across Britain
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Internet users are very positive about technology; non-users are generally doubtful and fearful
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 5:04 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Internet users remain disproportionately likely to be young, well educated, and wealthy. Consistent with these patterns, attitudes toward technology are positive among students, the ... Read More Internet users are very positive about technology; non-users are generally doubtful and fearful
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Why do some people not use the Internet?
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 5:00 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Non-use of the Internet has declined substantially over the past two years. In 2013 about 18% of the population had never used the Internet, ... Read More Why do some people not use the Internet?
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Are people getting better at using the Internet?
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 4:51 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
The percentage of Internet users with good or excellent self-rated Internet use skills has steadily increased from 60% in 2003 to 74% in 2013. ... Read More Are people getting better at using the Internet?
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Children and the Internet: parental attitudes and rules
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 4:47 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Children’s regulation shows trends that appear contradictory. Although the percentage of parents establishing rules about Internet use is declining, parents also are increasingly installing ... Read More Children and the Internet: parental attitudes and rules
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Is the Internet a threat to privacy? Almost half of British Internet users say “Yes”
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 4:42 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Journalistic coverage of privacy issues has mushroomed and there is a generally high level of concern about privacy. In 2013 almost half (47%) of Internet ... Read More Is the Internet a threat to privacy? Almost half of British Internet users say “Yes”
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How much time do British people spend online?
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 4:18 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
British people spend an average of 11.3 hours per week online at home; this has been roughly stable since 2007 (average 10.9 hours a week at ... Read More How much time do British people spend online?
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Effectiveness of Internet use varies hugely by income, lifestage, and education
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 4:11 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Benefits from use of the Internet appear more likely to accrue to people with higher household incomes. That pattern exists across all four benefits ... Read More Effectiveness of Internet use varies hugely by income, lifestage, and education
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Most Internet non-users have a link to the Internet via a proxy user
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 3:53 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Almost 90% of ex-users and almost 70% of non-users said they have a link to the Internet if they need it, but their access ... Read More Most Internet non-users have a link to the Internet via a proxy user
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Almost half of people with disabilities don’t use the Internet: but why?
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 3:47 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
While disabilities, such as health-related problems, are a continuing source of digital exclusion, OxIS 2013 shows that over half (51%) of British people with ... Read More Almost half of people with disabilities don’t use the Internet: but why?
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How likely are ex- and non-users to get online in the future?
Date Published: 3 September 2013 - 3:42 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
There is a steadily declining likelihood that ex-users will get Internet access in the next year. In 2013 29% of ex-users were planning access ... Read More How likely are ex- and non-users to get online in the future?
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Use of online government services is increasing, but still presents a problem for many
Date Published: 2 September 2013 - 5:08 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
Use of the Internet has been positively associated with involvement in politics and government. With respect to governmental activity, public engagement with digital government is ... Read More Use of online government services is increasing, but still presents a problem for many
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Ex-users and Reasons for Not Using the Internet: Life Stage and Occupation
Date Published: 5 September 2012 - 12:34 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
The reasons why ex-users stop using the Internet change over time. The graph below tells an interesting story. In 2005 the majority, 40% of ... Read More Ex-users and Reasons for Not Using the Internet: Life Stage and Occupation
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Non- and Ex-users: Reasons for Not Using the Internet
Date Published: 5 July 2012 - 12:13 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
After showing some of the characteristics of non- and ex-users of the Internet, this post focuses on reasons why they say they do not ... Read More Non- and Ex-users: Reasons for Not Using the Internet
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Non- and Ex-users of the Internet: Life stage, Education and Income
Date Published: 5 June 2012 - 12:03 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
The previous blog post showed that gender is not powerful in explaining who are non- and ex-users of the Internet, whereas age is strongly ... Read More Non- and Ex-users of the Internet: Life stage, Education and Income
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Non- and Ex-users of the Internet: Gender and Age
Date Published: 5 May 2012 - 12:01 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
In this post we explore some basic demographic characteristics of non- and ex-users of the Internet. The first graph shows that the proportions of ... Read More Non- and Ex-users of the Internet: Gender and Age
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Civic by default – when opting in is not a choice
Date Published: 13 April 2012 - 5:13 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
OII Research Fellow Rebecca Eynon and Anne Geniets discuss the topical issue of the UK’s digital inclusion strategy, discussed at last week’s OII workshop ... Read More Civic by default – when opting in is not a choice
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On Non-users and Ex-users of Internet
Date Published: 5 April 2012 - 11:53 am
Authors: Grant Blank
This blog post is the first of a series on people who have never used the Internet before (non-users) and people who have had ... Read More On Non-users and Ex-users of Internet
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OxIS featured in “Stata News”
Date Published: 5 March 2012 - 11:39 am
Authors: Grant Blank
The Oxford Internet Survey was featured in the current issue of the Stata News. Stata News goes out to around 100,000 users of the ... Read More OxIS featured in “Stata News”
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The challenge of measuring social network site use
Date Published: 20 December 2011 - 10:40 am
Authors: Grant Blank
Survey research, which is at the core of the OxIS project, presents several measurement challenges. Establishing reliability is especially difficult when measuring concepts where ... Read More The challenge of measuring social network site use
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Highlights from the OxIS 2011 Report launch
Date Published: 20 October 2011 - 11:18 am
Authors: David Sutcliffe
On Monday we launched the 2011 OxIS report: “Next Generation Users: The Internet in Britain” (PDF, 3.1MB) at an event at the House of Commons. The ... Read More Highlights from the OxIS 2011 Report launch
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Data! We have Data!
Date Published: 17 May 2011 - 12:42 pm
Authors: Grant Blank
The 2011 wave of data collection is finished and we have 2,057 respondents. We have gone through several waves of data cleaning. For example, ... Read More Data! We have Data!
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In the Field!
Date Published: 8 February 2011 - 11:44 am
Authors: Grant Blank
Data collection has begun for the 2011 wave of the Oxford Internet Surveys, with ICM Research hired to collect a random sample of about 2,000 ... Read More In the Field!
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“Expanding the Connected Kingdom”: OII works with Google on policies for stimulating the UK Internet Economy
Date Published: 18 November 2010 - 4:45 pm
Authors: David Sutcliffe
This is a guest post by Victoria Nash, OII Policy and Research Fellow. She discusses the topical issue of the UK’s Internet economy, an issue ... Read More “Expanding the Connected Kingdom”: OII works with Google on policies for stimulating the UK Internet Economy
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Young people and the digital divide: data from the Oxford Internet Surveys
Date Published: 15 November 2010 - 4:40 pm
Authors: David Sutcliffe
I have posted below the comments I prepared for a panel on ‘Young People and the Digital Divide‘, organized by Catch22 at the Liberal ... Read More Young people and the digital divide: data from the Oxford Internet Surveys
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Most UK citizens do not find internet enthusiastic: Study
Date Published: 4 October 2013
Source: The Times of India
The Times of India reports on the finding of the OxIS 2103 that many UK citizens use the Internet with reluctance.
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Over half of British internet users go online ‘without enthusiasm’
Date Published: 2 October 2013
Source: Phys Org
A report of the OxIS 2013 findings that nearly half of the people who go online do so with a lack of enthusiasm
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Britain’s reluctant internet revolutionaries
Date Published: 1 October 2013
Source: The Daily Telegraph
The 2013 Oxford Internet Surveys have charted the speed in which the digital revolutions is transforming life in Britain but it also reveals that almost four out of 10 people use it with reluctance.
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One in seven admit they hate the internet and fear it is ‘taking control of our lives’… but more of us are going online Read more: Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Date Published: 1 October 2013
Source: Daily Mail
Report of the finding of OxIS 2013 that many users of the Internet do so reluctantly.
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Divorce: A silver lining
Date Published: 20 August 2013
Source: The Economist
An article about divorce among older people, notes that an OII report soon to be released found that 51% of retired people that use the internet meet people online.
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Are you middle of the road or enlightened?
Date Published: 13 November 2012
Source: thinkbroadband
'It should be required reading for anyone involved in digital inclusion schemes.' BT's official business site refers to the OII’s study, sponsored by the Nominet Trust, of digital use by young people.
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Cloud control is key to the future of the Internet
Date Published: 22 July 2012
Source: The Observer
The Oxford Internet Surveys are the only studies that come anywhere near OfCom's annual communications report market says John Naughton. Among findings he notes, is a significant rise in smartphone use and in internet access among 65–74 year olds.
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Digital solutions to tackle youth unemployment
Date Published: 16 February 2012
Source: CivilSociety.co.uk
Dan Sutch of the Nominet Trust looks at opportunities presented by digital technology to address the challenge of youth unemployment. But young people not online need support too. He refers to OII findings and current research.
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Oxford Internet Institute showcases Stata’s capabilities
Date Published: 1 January 2012
Source: The STATA News
The work of OII researchers using Stata's statistical software for analysis of the data collected for the Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) is featured in the company's quarterly newsletter.
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How to lift the digital age barrier
Date Published: 30 November 2011
Source: The Guardian
According to figures from the OII's Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS), Internet use among people aged 65 and over sits at only about 30% and has not changed much since 2005, despite campaigns to get more older people connected.
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Prof. Dutton: ”Next Generation Internet Users” w sieci szukają głównie rozrywki i multimediów Więcej
Date Published: 24 October 2011
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza
William Dutton discusses findings from the 2011 Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) at the 2011 World Internet Project (WIP) meeting in Poland.
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Study finds half of web users go online via mobile devices
Date Published: 19 October 2011
Source: Broadband Choice
The characteristics of 'new generation users' of the Internet as revealed in the 2011 Oxford Internet Surveys are highlighted on the broadband website. They visit multiple locations, utilise several difference devices and contribute content.
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Attitudes towards the internet may hold back ‘Digital Britain’
Date Published: 22 June 2009
Source: The Independent
'Though Gordon Brown may have trumpeted nationwide broadband access as essential for economic growth at the recent Digital Britain summit, a new Oxford University study suggests the barriers to creating a new digital Britain could lie in hearts and minds'
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Professor William Dutton gives keynote presentation at CIM Forum Europe’s inaugural event
Date Published: 17 September 2007
Source: TMCnet
William Dutton gives a keynote presentation at CIM Forum Europe's inaugural event, presenting the results of the OxIS 2007 report into the changing landscape of internet access, use and attitudes in Britain
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Oxford survey on internet use in Britain
Date Published: 26 July 2007
Source: Physorg.com
The Oxford Internet Institute has released the OxIS Report 2007, the latest report in a series OII surveys that examine internet access, use and attitudes in Britain. A key finding is that a digital divide continues to exist
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Digital divide grows with web use
Date Published: 25 July 2007
Source: BBC News
The digital divide in Britain is still pronounced despite growing intensity of internet use [...] The Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) found that with two-thirds of Britons online, the poor, the old and the less educated are still losing out
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Report: UK digital divide still exists
Date Published: 25 July 2007
Source: BCS News
A new study has revealed that a digital divide between certain sectors of society still exists in the UK. According to the Oxford Internet Survey Report 2007, men still use the internet more than women for most purposes
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One in three rejects technology
Date Published: 10 July 2005
Source: The Sunday Times
Coverage of the OxIS 2005 Report: 'New research by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) reveals that it is not only money, age or education that is stopping people going online. Many people remain unconnected by choice - they are digital refuseniks'
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How the net changed family life
Date Published: 12 June 2005
Source: The Sunday Times
Coverage of the Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) 2005 Report: 'It's official: the internet is transforming our social fabric. Andrew Smith examines the evidence in an exclusive preview of a new nationwide survey'
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The internet refuseniks
Date Published: 24 November 2003
Source: BBC News
Professor Richard Rose discusses OxIS 2003: Just because internet access is now widely available, that does not mean everyone will want to use it. What will it take to get the whole population online?