Internet Use Internet Use Internet Use Internet Use Internet Use Internet Use Internet Use Internet Use

Among Young Among Young Among Young Among Young Among Young Among Young Among Young Among Young

People in the KMAPeople in the KMAPeople in the KMAPeople in the KMAPeople in the KMAPeople in the KMAPeople in the KMAPeople in the KMA

Richard KellyRichard Kelly

Planning Institute of JamaicaPlanning Institute of Jamaica

S&T Conference, 2007S&T Conference, 2007

The Context The Context

�� Information and Communications Information and Communications Technology (ICT) vital to Jamaica’s Technology (ICT) vital to Jamaica’s thrust to:thrust to:

-- develop a knowledgedevelop a knowledge--based economybased economy

-- achieve developed status by 2030.achieve developed status by 2030.

�� Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has invested in and expanded the ICT invested in and expanded the ICT infrastructure to:infrastructure to:

-- boost efficiency and productionboost efficiency and production

-- improve telecommunications; andimprove telecommunications; and

-- increase access to global knowledge increase access to global knowledge through the internet. through the internet.

The ContextThe Context

�� Internet penetration stood at 39.4% Internet penetration stood at 39.4% in 2006. in 2006.

�� 13.7% of households in Jamaica 13.7% of households in Jamaica have a computer. have a computer.

�� Of those having computers, 44.6% Of those having computers, 44.6% have internet connection. have internet connection.

�� Households in the KMA have both a Households in the KMA have both a higher percentage of computer higher percentage of computer ownership and internet connection. ownership and internet connection.

The ContextThe Context

�� Young people 0Young people 0--29 represent 36.5% 29 represent 36.5%

�� Expected to play a major role in the Expected to play a major role in the transformation of the country to transformation of the country to developed status. developed status.

�� Given link between technological Given link between technological awareness and access, it is critical to awareness and access, it is critical to assess the extent to which young people assess the extent to which young people are aware of the diverse opportunities the are aware of the diverse opportunities the internet can provide in making their lives internet can provide in making their lives and their country better.and their country better.

��

The ObjectivesThe Objectives

�� This study is a pilot This study is a pilot

�� Examines internet use among Examines internet use among

young people (age 10young people (age 10--29) in the 29) in the

KMA, in terms of: KMA, in terms of:

-- location of access & purpose of location of access & purpose of

useuse

�� Canvasses the views of the youth Canvasses the views of the youth

on impacts of the internet on their on impacts of the internet on their

lives now and in the future. lives now and in the future.

How we did it?How we did it?

�� The study targeted young people in the The study targeted young people in the KMA within the age group 10KMA within the age group 10--29 years 29 years old. old.

�� Sample consisted of 130 persons drawn Sample consisted of 130 persons drawn randomly from high schools,& tertiary randomly from high schools,& tertiary institutions. institutions.

�� Five high schools and two tertiary Five high schools and two tertiary institutions within the KMA were randomly institutions within the KMA were randomly selected. selected.

�� A total of 130 questionnaires were A total of 130 questionnaires were administered to persons. administered to persons.

Limitation(sLimitation(s))

�� The study is a pilotThe study is a pilot

�� The relatively small sample size may The relatively small sample size may

limit any conclusions made to the limit any conclusions made to the

sample alone and not necessarily to sample alone and not necessarily to

the population under study. the population under study.

Assumption(sAssumption(s))

�� It was assumed that It was assumed that

responses to the questions responses to the questions

were reliable, adequate and were reliable, adequate and

appropriate. appropriate.

The ResultsThe Results

14.319Tertiary

85.7112Secondary

Educational level

25.33325-29

29.13820-24

28.83815-19

16.82210-14

Age

54.070Female

46.060Male

Gender

Percentage NIndependent Variables

Table 1. Demographic Profile of Sample

The ResultsThe Results

�� All respondents were aware of the All respondents were aware of the internet and were familiar with how to internet and were familiar with how to use it. use it.

�� No difference in knowledge of the No difference in knowledge of the internet by gender internet by gender

�� Awareness seemed to increase with age. Awareness seemed to increase with age. For example, 82.4% within the age group For example, 82.4% within the age group 1010--14 reported knowing what the internet 14 reported knowing what the internet

�� Awareness increased to 100% within the Awareness increased to 100% within the age groups 20age groups 20--24 and 2524 and 25--29. 29.

Location of accessLocation of access

0.03.80.03.52.75.53.22.32.6Other

16.920.714.318.620.916.719.419.119.2

Friend/relative's

home

10.817.77.12.618.616.715.114.114.5Library

11.30.621.47.71.20.02.66.55.0Work

30.318.128.633.822.25.519.825.323.3School

28.330.828.633.826.150.235.026.529.7Home

2.48.40.00.08.45.54.96.25.7Cybercafe

TertiarySecondary25-2920-2415-1910-14Female Male All

Educational levelAgeGender

Location of

access

Table 2. Percentage responses by location of access

Frequency of UseFrequency of Use

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Everyday Many times a day Many times a week Once a month

%

10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29

Figure 1. Frequency of Use by Age

Use of the InternetUse of the Internet

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Research Entertainment E-mail Chat Rooms Instant

Messenger

%

Male Female

Figure 2. Percentage Use of the Internet by Gender

Influence of the Internet Influence of the Internet

43%

12%

29%

13%3%

Information Research Communication Entertainment Jobsearch

Figure 3. Influence of the Internet

Impact on Future Impact on Future

4.12.00.03.04.30.03.42.52.9Meet new people

1.47.40.00.04.320.27.02.84.7Invasion of privacy

7.23.011.15.83.70.04.65.04.8Entertainment

9.60.911.111.61.50.02.76.54.8E-business

1.28.90.02.86.013.45.65.15.3Waste time

4.76.811.10.04.713.03.37.75.7

Help with creativity and

innovation

16.27.322.214.17.96.56.614.711.1

Communication with

friends and family

11.512.711.16.014.113.411.812.112.0Career Opportunities

13.620.711.124.418.713.421.015.618.0Educational Opportunities

30.530.222.232.434.820.234.028.030.7Access Information

TertiarySecondary25-2920-2415-1910-14

Educational levelAgeFemaleMaleAll

Impact of Internet on

Future

Table 3. Percentage responses: How can the internet impact on future?

ConclusionConclusion

�� Study is indicative of some general Study is indicative of some general

trends in internet use among trends in internet use among

young people as supported by a young people as supported by a

number of studies, despite the number of studies, despite the

small size and geographical small size and geographical

restriction of the sample.restriction of the sample.

�� While all respondents used the While all respondents used the

internet, of concern, is the one internet, of concern, is the one

third who identified it as having no third who identified it as having no

impact on their future. impact on their future.

ConclusionConclusion

�� Young people should be educated on Young people should be educated on the various opportunities provided by the various opportunities provided by the internet if they are to be critical the internet if they are to be critical players in the development of the players in the development of the country. country.

�� Further research should include a Further research should include a comprehensive examination of comprehensive examination of internet access and use within the internet access and use within the general population and identify gaps general population and identify gaps to bridge the digital divide. to bridge the digital divide.

Logging Out Logging Out

Thank You.Thank You.