Presented by Dr Grant Blank, Oxford Internet Institute, at the Social Digital Research Symposium (13th September 2012)

1. Low and Lapsed Use amongst
Young People
Rebecca Eynon, Anne Geniets, Grant Blank
Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
13 September 2012

2. Internet use in Britain: 2003-2011
User Ex-user Non-user
100
80 73
% of the population
67
60 59
40 35
28
23
20
6 5 5
0
2003 2007 2011
OxIS 2003: N=2,029; OxIS 2005: N=2,185; OxIS 2007: N=2,350; OxIS 2009: N=2,013; OxIS 2011: N=2,057

3. Factors in understanding lapsed use
• Psychological
– Attitudes, motivations and agency towards the Internet &
everyday life
• Cognitive
– Technical skills, critical skills, literacy and awareness of
opportunity
• Physical
– Quality of Internet access, access to technologies, use of other
technologies
• Socio-cultural
– Family, friends, peers, school, work, community
• Material
– Occupation, income, education
Page 3

4. Typology of lapsed users (1)
• Group 1:
– Primarily because lack of access and cost.
– In all other respects they demonstrate a number of
characteristics that suggests that they are very close to the
digital mainstream.
• Group 2:
– Lack of access and cost
– Lack of institutional support at school or work
• Group 3:
– Differ in terms of attitudes: not seeing the Internet as important
for finding out or learning new things,
– Lower levels of learner self-concept,
– Less positive about their skills to use the Internet.
Page 4

5. Typology of lapsed users (2)
• Group 4:
– Multiple reasons for not using the Internet (access, cost, skills
and interest).
– Only reason to use the Internet is school.
– Fare negatively on all five factors: psychological, cognitive,
physical, socio-cultural and material.
• Group 5:
– Job does not require Internet use.
– Very close social networks weaken motivation and need.
– Not interested
– Encounter some challenges with all five factors – yet these
operate in a different way to group 4.
Page 5

6. Meaningful use
• The majority of lapsed Internet users did technically
“use” the Internet
• Use was infrequent, narrow, or via other people
• They did not see it as easy, satisfying or successful
– Often frustrating, slow, cumbersome, confusing
Page 6

7. Concluding comments
• Think more about meaningful use rather than just use
• Digital native discourse has negative implications
– These young people need support as well
• Targeted support is important
– Removal of barriers of access, cost, also basic knowledge
• Key sources of support
– Libraries
– Schools often major source of learning, support and access
Page 7

8. Thank you.
Rebecca Eynon, Anne Geniets, Grant Blank
Report:
http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/publications/Lapsed_Internet_Users_Report_2012.pdf
Oxford Internet Surveys
http://microsites.oii.ox.ac.uk/oxis/
oxis@oii.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Internet Institute
http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk