Millions lack media access Monday, November 17, 2008 - 15:39

Over one-third (36%) of adults do not have access to a computer and over two-fifths (42%) lack access to the Internet. These are the headline findings of the Annual Media Literacy Survey 2008 from NIACE, published on Monday 17th November 2008, at a joint NIACE/Ofcom Media Literacy Conference in London.

The survey - which examines adults' ability to access, understand and create a variety of media - also shows that more men (67%) than women (62%) have access to computers and the Internet (61% for men and 56% for women). However for those that do have access, sending emails (77%) is the most popular activity, even more so than general surfing (65%).

Four-fifths (80%) of adults have ‘no interest' in publishing media - including blogs, podcasts, videos, own web pages or photographs in a public album - on the Internet. The most popular for those who are interested is ‘publishing their own web pages'. However while three-quarters (75%) of adults have never published media on the Internet, one in five (20%) have. The most popular activity is uploading photographs to a public album. The least popular (1%) is ‘creating and uploading a podcast', and ‘contributing to a Wiki'.

With reference to other media over two-thirds (70%) of adults are ‘satisfied' with the amount of choice and variety on television including almost two-fifths (17%) saying that they are ‘very satisfied'. This compares to over one-quarter (26%) feeling ‘dissatisfied', including just over one-in-twenty adults (6%) feeling ‘not at all satisfied'.

Four-fifths (81%) of adults watch television for more than 6 hours a week and almost one-third (32%) watch for more than 20 hours a week. The common stereotype of men flicking between channels with the remote seems to have some truth. Nearly one-third (30%) of men admit to ‘switching around a lot when they are watching television', compared to less than two-fifths (18%) of women.

However over two-fifths (41%) of women say they have ‘favourite regular programmes but don't watch much else', compared to less than three-fifths (27%) of men. And although over four-fifths (83%) of adults have access to a DVD player over two-thirds (68%) of adults spend no more than two hours using them a week.

Robin Blake, Head of Media Literacy, Ofcom, said:

"People without the skills to use new communications technologies run the risk of being excluded socially, politically and financially. We all need to help people develop their media literacy to build confidence to benefit from the many opportunities available in this digital world. That's why we are so pleased to be working with NIACE to promote media literacy."

Rachel Thomson, NIACE Lead Officer for Media Literacy, said:

"What we see and hear from the media shapes our sense of reality and our understanding of the world around us. Yet significant numbers of adults remain on the wrong side of the digital divide. Television continues to play an important role in our leisure time. Too often, however, assumptions are made about people's ability to participate in the virtual world. Considerable effort is needed to ensure that those who are already marginalised do not become yet further disadvantaged."