Scottish Household Survey 2023 results : internet
Key findings on questions about internet from the 2023 Scottish Household Survey.
The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is an annual survey of the general population in Scotland, carried out since 1999. It collects information on a range of topics through a random sample of people in private residences. This publication contains key findings on questions about internet.
Internet Access
The proportion of households in Scotland with internet access remained at a record high of 91 per cent in 2023. Household internet access increased with net annual household income. Home internet access for households with a net annual income of between £6,001 and £10,000 was 77 per cent in 2023, compared with 100 per cent of households with a net annual income of over £60,000. Access differed by area of deprivation: 87 per cent of households in the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland had internet access at home compared with 96 per cent of households in the 20% least deprived areas. Internet access also varied by tenure: 85 per cent of those in social rented housing had internet access compared with 93 per cent of households who owned their home.
Internet Use
Ninety one per cent of adults in Scotland use the internet either for work or personal use, a steady increase over time from 65 per cent in 2007. Notably, there has been a significant increase in internet use amongst older adults aged 60+ (from 29 per cent to 77 per cent) over the same period. Despite this increase there are lower rates of internet use among older adults than among younger adults. In 2023, almost all (99 per cent) adults aged 16-34 reported using the internet compared to 77 per cent of those aged 60+. Sixty-nine per cent of disabled adults aged 60+ reported using the internet, compared with 83 per cent of non-disabled adults aged 60+. The percentage of adults who do not use the internet was higher for those living in the 20% most deprived areas than for those in the 20% least deprived areas in Scotland. Internet use also increased with income.
Where and How Users Access the Internet
Almost all (98 per cent) adults who use the internet access it at home, followed by 68 per cent who access the internet on the move using a mobile phone or tablet. The proportion of internet users reporting that they access the internet using a smartphone remained at 92% in 2023. The proportion of internet users using a smartphone to go online was greater than the proportion who accessed the internet using a PC or laptop (73 per cent). Younger internet users were more likely to access the internet using a smartphone than older users, with 97 per cent of 16-34 year olds using smartphones compared with 78 per cent of adults aged 60+. Older internet users were more likely than younger users to use a tablet to access the internet. Of those who do not use the internet, the most common reason that could convince people to go online was keeping in touch with family and friends at no extra cost, however this was only reported by five per cent of this group.
Online Safety and Security
The most common online security measures taken by adults who make use of the internet were avoiding opening emails or attachments from unknown people (75 per cent) and avoiding giving personal information online (71 per cent). A higher proportion of internet users who were older or were living in the 20% most deprived areas answered that they adopted none of the online security measures mentioned.
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