GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- -- According to the latest Gallup poll, conducted February 20-21, there has been a modest increase over the past year in the number of Americans who say they have recently used the Internet, with 54% now saying they have, compared with 47% in November, 1998. Of those who are current users, 72% say the Internet has made their lives better, while just 2% say worse, and another 26% say it has made no difference.
When asked which is a better use of their time -- surfing the Internet or watching TV -- most users (62%) choose the Internet, while just 25% say TV. However, the percentages are reversed when users are asked which they enjoy more: 59% say watching TV, while 33% say surfing the Internet.
These responses are consistent with the reasons why people say they use the Internet -- 95% to obtain information, 89% to send or receive email, 45% for shopping, and 21% to visit in chat rooms.
Concerns About Computer Hackers Jamming web
Sites
The poll also shows that recent efforts by rogue computer hackers
to jam the Internet affected only a small proportion of users.
Still, many of those who were not affected directly say they have
become more cautious about providing sensitive information on the
Internet and are now less likely to use a credit card for online
purchases. Two weeks ago, Internet hackers virtually closed down
several web sites by sending millions of phantom users to overload
these sites' capabilities. Among Internet users, just 9% say they
were personally affected by these actions -- either by being
prevented from getting to the site they wanted to visit, or by
being delayed in getting there.
While the rest of the Internet users surveyed were not directly affected by these actions, about half of all users say they are now less likely to use their credit card for online purchases and are also less likely to give personal or financial information on a web site. Another 20% of users say they are even less likely to use the Internet at all.
Internet Shopping is big Business
Among all Internet users, 48% say they have purchased products or
information on the Internet, which represents about a fourth of all
adults in the country. Overwhelmingly, these customers have used a
credit card to make their purchases, presumably in part because the
vendors have been successful in convincing the public that their
credit card information can be kept confidential. But this trust is
shaky. The poll shows that among all Internet users, only 22% feel
completely or very confident that their credit card information
will remain secure and another 32% say they are "somewhat
confident." However nearly half -- 46% -- say they are either not
too confident (22%) or not at all confident (24%). Among those who
actually have used a credit card on the net, confidence is higher,
but even among these customers, only 44% feel very confident.
Survey Methods
The results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a
randomly selected national sample of 1,031 adults, 18 years and
older, conducted February 20-21, 2000. This sample included 596
respondents who said they have used the Internet within the past 30
days. For results based on the whole sample, one can say with 95
percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling
and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For
results based on the sample of Internet users, the margin of error
is plus or minus 4 percentage points. In addition to sampling
error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting
surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public
opinion polls.
Have you ever bought any products or paid for any type of information or other service on the Internet?
BASED ON -596-INTERNET USERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
| Yes | 48% |
| No | 52 |
| No opinion | * |
When you have bought something on the Internet, have you ever used a credit card, or not?
BASED ON -302-BOUGHT PRODUCTS OR PAID FOR INFORMATION OR SERVICE ON THE INTERNET; ± 6 PCT PTS
| Yes | 88% |
| No | 12 |
| No opinion | * |
In general, how much confidence do you have that if someone uses a credit card to pay for something on the Internet, the credit card number will be secure and not stolen or misused in some way? Are you- completely confident, very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?
BASED ON -596-INTERNET USERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
| Completely confident | 4% |
| Very confident | 18 |
| Somewhat confident | 32 |
| Not too confident, or | 22 |
| Not at all confident | 24 |
| No opinion | * |
Recently there have been some news reports about computer hackers trying to sabotage the Internet and make it difficult or impossible for users to get to some web sites. How closely have you followed these stories - very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all closely?
BASED ON -596-INTERNET USERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
| Very closely | 18% |
| Somewhat closely | 47 |
| Not too closely | 24 |
| Not at all closely | 11 |
| No opinion | * |
Have the recent problems on the Internet affected you personally, or not?
BASED ON -596-INTERNET USERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
| Yes | 9% |
| No | 90 |
| No opinion | 1 |
Have you either been delayed in getting to a web site, or been prevented from getting there, because of the recent problems on the Internet, or not?
BASED ON -57-AFFECTED BY RECENT PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET; + 11 PCT PTS
| Yes | 81% |
| No | 18 |
| No opinion | 1 |
More generally, would you say these stories about computer hackers breaking into web sites have or have not made you less likely to (RANDOM ORDER)?
BASED ON -596-INTERNET USERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
A. Use the Internet
| Yes, less likely | 20% |
| No, not less likely | 78 |
| No opinion | 2 |
B. Use your credit card to buy products or spend money to get information
| Yes, less likely | 47% |
| No, not less likely | 51 |
| No opinion | 2 |
C. Give personal or financial information on a web site
| Yes, less likely | 51% |
| No, not less likely | 47 |
| No opinion | 2 |
