Young people in Ireland flocking to the net

04-10-2006

by Ciara O'Brien

Irish kids as young as eight are going online for the first time, according to a new report on internet usage.

According to the "State of the Net" report from Amas and the Irish Internet Association, young people are embracing the online medium, with a typical teenager spending an average of two hours a day on the internet.

The web is now becoming the "channel of choice" for those in the communications business in a bid to reach younger consumers, the report said.

"Top down communications from government bodies, businesses and 'officialdom' doesn't work in seeking to influence or communicate with a young audience," said Aileen O'Toole, managing director of Amas, in the report. "Bottom-up, peer-to-peer communication seeded and carried through a variety of online channels is more likely to deliver the desired result."

Social networking website Bebo is proving a top draw for Irish teens, with the site claiming 700,000 registered Irish users. Meanwhile, one in ten children between nine and 16 years old use online instant messaging every day.

"When they enter their teenage years, they're more likely to be talking about Bebo in the school yard than who did what in a favourite TV soap," said O'Toole.

However, this new trend is not without its downsides. According to the report, almost a quarter of nine to 16-year-olds have received "unwanted sexual comments" online.

The report also noted a "yawning gap" in the e-government sector. According to recent data, Ireland is still below average in the e-government stakes, and the country is classed as a "follower" rather than a trendsetter. Canada and the US top the e-government charts.

However, it's not all bad news. Sixty eight percent of Irish citizens class e-government services as "easy to use", while usage levels are up 6 percent annually. This increase is the third highest among the countries surveyed.

In general, Irish internet users consider themselves a savvy bunch, with some 35 percent of the Irish population describing themselves as "advanced" or "expert" internet users, in line with the EU average.

Broadband uptake is also on the rise, with the number of broadband subscribers hitting 410,000 by the middle of September. Competition has also increased in the market; there are now some 63 providers offering 340 packages.