The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) recently released its 2016 Internet Factbook, which revealed some interesting stats about how Canadians interact online.
The report states that while Canadians continue to be among the most active internet users in the world, the way they access the internet is changing. Mobile services are quickly catching up to desktop and laptop devices as the primary vessel of internet access for Canadians.
While desktop and laptop services are used primarily by 67 percent of Canadians, 21 percent stated that they mostly used their smartphones to access the internet. Furthermore, 41 percent of 18 to 41 year olds responded that they primarily use their mobile phones to access the internet.
While internet penetration rates are skyrocketing around the world, Canada’s rate of penetration sits at 87.12 percent, under countries like Qatar, Aruba and Bahrain. The United States penetration rate comparatively sits at 73 percent.
Some of the most common internet activities Canadians engage in on their mobile devices include visiting social media websites and streaming audio or video, while more sensitive activities like banking are often done via a desktop or laptop.
Furthermore, email continues to be the primary online activity for Canadians, with banking, social media and reading about current events following in that order. Almost half of Canadians cite online shopping as a frequent reason for accessing the internet, while most younger Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 use the internet to watch videos online.
Canadians are also continually concerned about cyber security issues. Over 47 percent of Canadians are unwilling to make a purchase from their online retailer after a cyber attack.
The results were similar in charitable environments, as 48 percent of Canadians reported that they’d be unwilling to make a donation to a non-profit organization after a cyber attack.
While Canada remains one of the world’s most connected nations, the divides in particular regions persist. Download speeds in rural areas, for example, are notably lower than those in urban areas by a rate of over 2 Mbps. While broadband speeds in urban areas are universally higher than 5 Mbps, only 87 percent of the countryside has the same level of high-speed access.
[source]CIRA Internet Factbook[/source]
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.
