Even as an increasing number Canadians across all demographic groups make the move online, the digital divide remains real. Large differences in usage patterns persist across, age, education and income segments, with little reduction in gaps between groups (even though all have seen growth). There also continue to be differences along gender lines, although not quite as pronounced [Table 1].

• While more than two thirds (65 per cent) of women have used the Internet recently, up from 57 per cent a year ago, they are still significantly less likely to have used the Internet than their male counter parts.
• Likewise, while 28 per cent of seniors have used the Internet in the past three months, up from one in five (21 per cent) a year ago, they remain much less likely to have used the Internet than younger Canadians.
• More revealing is the strong home access division that is growing according to household income. Table 1 shows that in 1997, a 39-point gap separated respondents low and high income households, compared to 49 in 2000 and 48 in 2002.

Although characteristics such as gender and age provide reliable direction into whether a person has used the Internet recently, once online, demographics are a much less useful indicator of online behaviour and attitudes. For example, the gender or age of an Internet user does not provide a great amount of insight into whether they have been online for a matter of months or for more than half a decade [Table 2].