Top-line analysis of the data from the 2000 Rethinking the Information Highway telephone poll reveals an overall picture of Internet usage that highlights some of the key demographic differences (Figure 3.2a). Internet usage, according to our definition increases with education and household income, declines in older age cohorts, and is significantly more prevalent among men (64 per cent) than women (57 per cent).

Similarly, Internet access at home has been relatively stable throughout 2000. More revealing is the strong home access division that is maintained according to household income. Figure 3.2b shows that in 1997, a 30-point gap separated respondents from the lower to the higher income category, compared with 36 in 2000.