Table 5: Barriers to access and age
| AGE |
Cost |
Interest |
Need |
| 1997 |
| <25 |
51% |
24% |
26% |
| 25-34 |
40% |
23% |
37% |
| 35-44 |
38% |
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% |
| 2001 |
| <25 |
60% |
19% |
21% |
| 25-34 |
69% |
17% |
13% |
| 35-44 |
32% |
43% |
25% |
| 45-54 |
26% |
29% |
35% |
| 55-64 |
22% |
51% |
27% |
| 65+ |
9% |
50% |
41% |
| Total |
28% |
40% |
31% |
Percentages may not equal 100 per cent due to rounding
Table 6 shows that cost is systematically
a more salient barrier for women than men. This minor yet significant
gap persists from earlier soundings in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Conversely,
a larger proportion of men than women identify lack of need as the main
barrier to accessing the Internet in the 1997, 1999 and 2000 surveys and
lack of need in the last iteration.
|