| While cost is less of a concern among older
Canadians (less than one out of five identify it as the most important
barrier in 2000), technical literacy and perceived need remain strong
disincentives and barriers to Internet access, which has remained virtually
unchanged for this group since 1997. Overall, the survey results indicate
that in 2000 seniors are more likely to identify “interest”
rather than “need” as a barrier to access. These most recent
results show a remarkable shift since 1997, when “need” outnumbered
“interest” by a margin of 16 percentage points for seniors.
Table 3.2
NEAR and FAR users
Main Reasons for the Lack of Internet Access from Home
| YOUTH |
Cost |
Interest |
Need |
| 1997 |
| <25 |
51% |
24% |
26 |
| 25-34 |
40% |
23% |
37% |
| 35-44 |
34% |
24% |
38% |
| 45-54 |
28% |
33% |
39% |
| 55-64 |
32% |
32% |
49% |
| 65+ |
8% |
38% |
54% |
| Total |
28% |
30% |
43% |
| 1999 |
| <25 |
56% |
21% |
23% |
| 25-34 |
42% |
31% |
27% |
| 35-44 |
50% |
29% |
22% |
| 45-54 |
43% |
32% |
25% |
| 55-64 |
32% |
39% |
30% |
| 65+ |
19% |
53% |
28% |
| Total |
42% |
33% |
25% |
| 2000 |
| <25 |
59% |
15% |
26% |
| 25-34 |
58% |
19% |
23% |
| 35-44 |
50% |
22% |
28% |
| 45-54 |
41% |
27% |
32% |
| 55-64 |
26% |
39% |
36% |
| 65+ |
19% |
42% |
39% |
| Total |
38% |
30% |
32% |
|