This is how Hungarians use the internet

We manage almost everything on the Internet, but there are still many Hungarians who do not use it. The reason is simple; “I don’t understand how to use the Internet” – say lots of Hungarians, according to napi.hu.

According to the European Commission’s 2018 DESI (Digital Economy and Society Index) report, Hungarians are way behind the European average in regular internet usage and in digital skills. Based on data from 2017, 76% of the Hungarian population used the internet regularly (at least once a week), while the average of the EU28 is 81%.

Hungary could come up against a wall if this does not change

The eNET performed its second research concerning the digital skills of Hungarian adults in October 2018. In the research – just as in the previous one in June 2015 –, people using the internet could choose from six key activities regarding what they have been doing on the internet; first, regardless of devices, then on a PC or laptop, and lastly, on their phone or tablet. 1 or 2 marked activities signify low, 3-4 signify intermediate, and 5-6 signify high digital competence. So, the more someone mark, the more they are considered to be a skilled user.

Similarly to the data from 2015, people using the Internet have no reason to be ashamed, because 41% of them have high competence, another 41% have intermediate, and only 18% of users have low levels of competence.

Concerning devices, smartphone and tablet usage was minimal compared to the use of PCs and laptops, but this has changed over the years. The competence of mobile device usage increased the most, while the competence connected to computers and laptops slightly decreased. Furthermore, in 2015, only 33% of internet users had high competence concerning the usage of mobile devices, but their ratio increased to 44% in 2018, so, it is evident that the number of people who are able to use all the possibilities provided by smart devices has increased.

Everything on the web

85% of internet users acknowledge that the Internet makes things easier and more comfortable, so they do everything they can online. The top 5 activities regularly performed are the following: browsing (90%), e-mailing (88%), seeking information (85%), social media (75%), news sites (72%).

This list is infinitely scalable, as the role of the Internet and the digital world is almost all-encompassing. It has seeped into several aspects of our lives, such as learning, working, entertainment, communication, management.

Consequently, 8 out of 10 people think that continuously developing digital skills could help people get more successful in life. Thus, it is not a coincidence that, since 2015, the number of people who take the time to develop their skills in the digital world has increased from 70% to 75%. They say that they are able to use the possibilities provided by the digital era better.

The Number 1 source for broadening our knowledge concerning the digital world in 2015 was, and still is, the Internet.

The percentage of those who try to find a solution to their problems connected to the digital world on the Internet has increased from 60% to 69% over the last few years.

43% of the interviewees have family members who do not use the Internet. The main reason – according to Internet users – is not the lack of proper devices but rather the “I don’t understand how to use the Internet” attitude. Therefore, users find shaping the perspective the most important, in which family members with better digital skills can help the most. 82% of users think that we need to promote the usage of the Internet in order to help people to harness the benefits the Internet can provide. 74% reckon that

the advancement of a society depends on the extent to which its members take advantage of the possibilities created by technology.

Source: napi.hu