COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES , COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Europe's Digital Competitiveness Report , Brussels, 04.08.2009 Volume 1: i2010 — Annual Information Society Report 2009
THE IMPACT OF ICT ON SOCIAL CAPITAL
Conclusions
The results reported in this chapter on the social impact of ICT show that, contrary to previous
predictions, internet use is positively associated with social capital. In general internet usersare more likely to be active in social organisations and are more active in social leisureactivities. They also exhibit higher levels of trust.
Furthermore, the general perception of internet users is that the internet has a positive impact
on their everyday life, especially in relation to their resource enhancing capabilities. They also
think that non-users incur costs, for example related to fewer chances to find bargains and
being disadvantage in their careers. Many of these opinions were shared by non-users. Nonusers
emphasised worries over security and frustration related to internet use, as well as the
time they had for friends/family/themselves.
This evidence suggests that there are strong social (and economic) benefits to internet use andthat, even in their own opinion, non-users are missing out on the chances offered by internetuse. It also shows that non-users have certain fears related to the social impact of ICT, which users do not share, suggesting that lack of familiarity with the internet may be an inhibiting factor. This confirms conclusions drawn in Chapter 2 in relation to the need of raising a wareness of the benefits and opportunities of internet use.
THE INTERNET AS A COMMUNICATION TOOL
Conclusions
Use of advanced communication services is on the rise. In 2008, 35% of Europeans declared
having used the Internet in the last three months for advanced communication services. The
continuing spread of faster and cheaper broadband communications has been one important
factor behind these results. Sending and receiving e-mails is still the most popular
communication service through the internet. Predominance in the use of one or another
service is however very much linked to age.
There is an evident, profound break with previous generations in the attitude towards the use
of internet services. In the most advanced countries, around 90% of young people connect on
a daily basis. However, across all EU Member States, use of advanced services is significantly
higher among the young and the gap between countries for this age group is smaller. More
frequent and advance use is linked to the higher level of internet and informatics skills of this
generation, to a large extend obtained though formalised education. Their behaviour as
regards the internet is also somehow different from the rest of the population: in particular,
the young are more extensive users of advanced internet services. 73% of them access
advanced communication services. The next chapter will look at further implications of such
behaviour.
As such, the young – and in particular students - can be considered as lead users of advanced
internet services, showing the way for other groups in society. The phenomenon is a clear
indication of the economic and social impact the internet will carry in the future and of the
size of the change brought about by the digital revolution. It is also a positive indicator for
future declines in the digital divide. Nevertheless, this does not mean that social differences in
internet use will disappear and policy action should continue to be taken to minimise these
differences.
orso castano:
Il documento , molto recente, anderebbe leo per intero, qui' ci sono solo stralci.
E' indubbio che con la diffusione della larga banda e con lo sviluppop del web semantico, che dovrebbe semplificare le ricerche sul web e renderle al contempo piu' precise, si estendera' l'uso della rete. Ci auguriamo che questo significhi anche un'estensione, un'aumento massiccio del socia network , che fino ad oggi ha piu' il sapore di vari club di amici che di mille dibattiti sugli avvenimenti scientifici, culturali e di sviluppo delle conoscenze.............
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