Usage of internet in households and by individuals, Slovenia, 2021
Dealing with untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media in Slovenia
In the first quarter of 2021, 89% of individuals aged 16–74 years regularly used the Internet. 58% saw untrue or doubtful information or content on Internet news sites or social media: 37% of them checked their truthfulness and 39% already knew that their source was unreliable.
The share of Internet users is increasing among the elderly, where the share of non-users remains the highest
In the first quarter of 2021, 89% of individuals aged 16–74 years regularly used the Internet (87% in 2020). The fewest regular Internet users were among 65–74-year-olds (62%) (51% in 2020). 82% of 16–74-year-olds used the Internet several times during the day (75% in 2020) and 8% have never used the Internet (11% in 2020); 8% of women and 7% of men.
The majority of the non-users are still among 65–74-year-olds, but their share is declining. In 2021, there were 31% and in 2020 44% of non-users among 65–74-year-olds. As the most common reason why they have never used the Internet, they stated (multiple answers were possible) that they did not need the Internet because they did not see it as useful (56%). 39% stated as a reason that they were not interested in the Internet, 28% lacked the necessary skills for the usage of computers, the Internet and 27% stated they were too old.
Smartphone is the most frequently used device for accessing the Internet
A large majority of regular Internet users accessed the Internet via smartphone (95%). 65% accessed the Internet via laptop, 46% via desktop computer, 27% via tablet computer and 25% via other mobile devices, e.g. smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch.
Smartphone was the most frequently used device to access the Internet within all age groups. The highest usage of smartphone for accessing the Internet was among 16–24-year-olds (98%) and the lowest among 65–74-year-olds (79%).
More significant differences are when accessing the Internet via other mobile devices, e.g. smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch. These devices were used by 44% of 16–24-year-olds and by 5% of 65–74-year-olds.
More than two-thirds of individuals aged 16–74 years carried out health-related activities via the Internet
The usage of the Internet for the purposes of communication, informing and other activities is increasing. In the first quarter of 2021, 81% of individuals aged 16–74 years sent or received e-mails, 75% searched for information about goods or services over the Internet, 64% used instant messaging where they exchanged messages via applications such as Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, Snapchat, and 62% made calls or video calls via applications such as Skype, Zoom, Viber, etc. These two types of communication were most frequently used by 16–24-year-olds: 86% used instant messaging and 83% made calls or video calls via the Internet.
More than two-thirds (68%) of individuals aged 16–74 years carried out one of the following health-related activities via the Internet. More than a half (54%) were seeking health-related information via the Internet. 31% of 16–74-year-olds made an appointment with a practitioner via web form: 23% an appointment with a practitioner in the hospital and 18% with a chosen (family) practitioner. 12% accessed personal medical documentation, e.g. via the zVEM portal, electronic medical data, e-prescriptions, e-referrals, and 19% used other medical services, e.g. getting a prescription or a consultation with a practitioner over the Internet instead of having to go to the hospital or visit a doctor.
More than half of individuals aged 16–74 years have seen untrue or doubtful information or content on the Internet
The Internet allows communication and sharing of various content and has become one of the main sources of information. In the first quarter of 2021, 68% of individuals aged 16–74 years read online news sites, newspapers, news magazines, 64% participated in social networks (posted messages, published pictures or managed profile on e.g. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook). 12% of 16–74-year-olds expressed opinions on civic or political issues on websites or in social media and 8% took part in online consultations or voting to define civic or political issues (on e-demokracija, predlagam.vladi.si).
With the growth of Internet usage, the amount of untrue information or content on the Internet (fake news) is also increasing. 58% of 16–74-year-olds (about 912,340) saw information or content (e.g. videos, images) on online news sites or social media that they found untrue or doubtful. They were most frequently seen by 25–34-year-olds (71%), followed by 16–24-year-olds and 35–44-year-olds (69%), and the least frequently by 65–74-year-olds (28%).
39% of 16–74-year-olds who saw untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media recognized that the information or their source was unreliable
37% of individuals aged 16–74 years (about 334,320) who saw untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media checked their truthfulness. The share was the highest among 16–24-year-olds (54%) and the lowest among 55–64-year-olds (26%).
16–74-year-olds checked the truthfulness of information or content in various ways (multiple answers were possible). Most frequently they checked sources or found other information on the Internet, e.g. other news sites, Wikipedia (30%). 15% discussed the information offline with other persons or used sources not on the Internet and 14% followed or took part in a discussion on the Internet regarding the information.
63% of individuals aged 16–74 years (about 578,020) who saw untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media have not checked their truthfulness. As the most common reason why they have not checked the truthfulness (multiple answers were possible), they stated that they already knew that information, content or source was unreliable (39%). 11% stated as a reason that they lacked skills or knowledge to check the information on the Internet or that it was too complicated to do so. 19% stated other reasons for not checking the truthfulness of the information or content.
Almost a quarter of households with fixed broadband connections encountered the problem of the connection speed being slower than contracted
In the first quarter of 2021, 93% of households with at least one person aged 16–74 years had Internet access (90% in 2020). The share was 95% in Zahodna Slovenija (91% in 2020) and 91% in Vzhodna Slovenija (89% in 2020).
83% of households accessed the Internet via fixed broadband connections. Of those, 51% did not encounter any problems while using these Internet connections. Fewer than a third (31%) encountered frequent disconnections or slow connection speeds, 23% encountered the problem that the speed of the connection was slower than specified in the contract, 18% with the problem that the connection was disconnected for a long time without prior notice by the Internet service provider, e.g. due to maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and 10% with the problem that the service provider has been troubleshooting the Internet connection for too long.
In the first quarter of 2021, 89% of individuals aged 16–74 years regularly used the Internet (87% in 2020). The fewest regular Internet users were among 65–74-year-olds (62%) (51% in 2020). 82% of 16–74-year-olds used the Internet several times during the day (75% in 2020) and 8% have never used the Internet (11% in 2020); 8% of women and 7% of men.
The majority of the non-users are still among 65–74-year-olds, but their share is declining. In 2021, there were 31% and in 2020 44% of non-users among 65–74-year-olds. As the most common reason why they have never used the Internet, they stated (multiple answers were possible) that they did not need the Internet because they did not see it as useful (56%). 39% stated as a reason that they were not interested in the Internet, 28% lacked the necessary skills for the usage of computers, the Internet and 27% stated they were too old.
Smartphone is the most frequently used device for accessing the Internet
A large majority of regular Internet users accessed the Internet via smartphone (95%). 65% accessed the Internet via laptop, 46% via desktop computer, 27% via tablet computer and 25% via other mobile devices, e.g. smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch.
Smartphone was the most frequently used device to access the Internet within all age groups. The highest usage of smartphone for accessing the Internet was among 16–24-year-olds (98%) and the lowest among 65–74-year-olds (79%).
More significant differences are when accessing the Internet via other mobile devices, e.g. smart TV, smart speakers, game console, e-book reader, smart watch. These devices were used by 44% of 16–24-year-olds and by 5% of 65–74-year-olds.
More than two-thirds of individuals aged 16–74 years carried out health-related activities via the Internet
The usage of the Internet for the purposes of communication, informing and other activities is increasing. In the first quarter of 2021, 81% of individuals aged 16–74 years sent or received e-mails, 75% searched for information about goods or services over the Internet, 64% used instant messaging where they exchanged messages via applications such as Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, Snapchat, and 62% made calls or video calls via applications such as Skype, Zoom, Viber, etc. These two types of communication were most frequently used by 16–24-year-olds: 86% used instant messaging and 83% made calls or video calls via the Internet.
More than two-thirds (68%) of individuals aged 16–74 years carried out one of the following health-related activities via the Internet. More than a half (54%) were seeking health-related information via the Internet. 31% of 16–74-year-olds made an appointment with a practitioner via web form: 23% an appointment with a practitioner in the hospital and 18% with a chosen (family) practitioner. 12% accessed personal medical documentation, e.g. via the zVEM portal, electronic medical data, e-prescriptions, e-referrals, and 19% used other medical services, e.g. getting a prescription or a consultation with a practitioner over the Internet instead of having to go to the hospital or visit a doctor.
More than half of individuals aged 16–74 years have seen untrue or doubtful information or content on the Internet
The Internet allows communication and sharing of various content and has become one of the main sources of information. In the first quarter of 2021, 68% of individuals aged 16–74 years read online news sites, newspapers, news magazines, 64% participated in social networks (posted messages, published pictures or managed profile on e.g. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook). 12% of 16–74-year-olds expressed opinions on civic or political issues on websites or in social media and 8% took part in online consultations or voting to define civic or political issues (on e-demokracija, predlagam.vladi.si).
With the growth of Internet usage, the amount of untrue information or content on the Internet (fake news) is also increasing. 58% of 16–74-year-olds (about 912,340) saw information or content (e.g. videos, images) on online news sites or social media that they found untrue or doubtful. They were most frequently seen by 25–34-year-olds (71%), followed by 16–24-year-olds and 35–44-year-olds (69%), and the least frequently by 65–74-year-olds (28%).
39% of 16–74-year-olds who saw untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media recognized that the information or their source was unreliable
37% of individuals aged 16–74 years (about 334,320) who saw untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media checked their truthfulness. The share was the highest among 16–24-year-olds (54%) and the lowest among 55–64-year-olds (26%).
16–74-year-olds checked the truthfulness of information or content in various ways (multiple answers were possible). Most frequently they checked sources or found other information on the Internet, e.g. other news sites, Wikipedia (30%). 15% discussed the information offline with other persons or used sources not on the Internet and 14% followed or took part in a discussion on the Internet regarding the information.
63% of individuals aged 16–74 years (about 578,020) who saw untrue or doubtful information or content on news websites or social media have not checked their truthfulness. As the most common reason why they have not checked the truthfulness (multiple answers were possible), they stated that they already knew that information, content or source was unreliable (39%). 11% stated as a reason that they lacked skills or knowledge to check the information on the Internet or that it was too complicated to do so. 19% stated other reasons for not checking the truthfulness of the information or content.
Almost a quarter of households with fixed broadband connections encountered the problem of the connection speed being slower than contracted
In the first quarter of 2021, 93% of households with at least one person aged 16–74 years had Internet access (90% in 2020). The share was 95% in Zahodna Slovenija (91% in 2020) and 91% in Vzhodna Slovenija (89% in 2020).
83% of households accessed the Internet via fixed broadband connections. Of those, 51% did not encounter any problems while using these Internet connections. Fewer than a third (31%) encountered frequent disconnections or slow connection speeds, 23% encountered the problem that the speed of the connection was slower than specified in the contract, 18% with the problem that the connection was disconnected for a long time without prior notice by the Internet service provider, e.g. due to maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and 10% with the problem that the service provider has been troubleshooting the Internet connection for too long.
METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
The surveys is co-financed by the European Commission. However, the European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the material published in this document.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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