Use of online media
Q. How often do you use the following online media –
|
Total use at least once a week |
At least daily |
Several times a week |
About once a week |
Less often |
Never |
Can’t say |
|
|
89% |
52% |
27% |
10% |
6% |
5% |
1% |
|
|
67% |
46% |
12% |
9% |
10% |
22% |
* |
|
| Newspaper websites |
57% |
22% |
17% |
18% |
23% |
20% |
1% |
| Other news websites |
55% |
18% |
20% |
17% |
23% |
21% |
1% |
| Blogs |
21% |
5% |
7% |
9% |
23% |
55% |
1% |
| Websites about social and political campaigns |
18% |
3% |
6% |
9% |
25% |
55% |
1% |
|
15% |
6% |
5% |
4% |
13% |
71% |
1% |
52% say they use Google at least daily and 46% use Facebook at least daily.
Google is used more by – aged 18-24 (74% daily), aged 25-34 (63%), Greens voters (65%), income $1,600+ pw (61%).
Facebook is used more by – women (53% daily), aged 18-24 (82%), aged 25-34 (60%), Greens voters (55%).
Newspaper websites are used more by – aged 25-34 (28% daily), Lib/Nat voters (25%), income $1,600+ pw (30%).
Other news websites are used more by – men (42% at least several times a week), aged 25-34 (48%)
Blogs are used more by – aged 25-34 (38% at least once a week), Greens voters (45%), income $1,600+ pw (28%).
Campaign websites are used more by – aged 25-34 (31% at least once a week), Greens voters (40%).
Twitter is used more by – aged 18-24 (24% at least once a week), aged 25-34 (29%), Greens voters (26%).
Actions taken through online media
Q. In the past month, have you done any of the following?
|
Total |
Men |
Women |
Aged 18-34 |
Aged 35-54 |
Aged 55+ |
|
| Voted in an online poll (e.g. on a news site – not a market research survey like this one) |
41% |
43% |
39% |
47% |
42% |
34% |
| Posted a comment on any other website (not a blog or a news site) |
33% |
34% |
32% |
39% |
33% |
25% |
| Signed an online petition |
29% |
26% |
31% |
37% |
26% |
24% |
| Posted a comment on a blog |
24% |
24% |
25% |
33% |
25% |
14% |
| Posted a comment on a news website |
15% |
18% |
12% |
16% |
17% |
10% |
| Posted a comment on Twitter (i.e. tweeted) |
13% |
13% |
12% |
22% |
12% |
2% |
The most common online actions were voting in an online poll (41% in the past month) and posting comment on a website other than a blog or news site (33%). 29% said they had signed an online petition.
There were not major differences by gender – although men were a little more likely to post comments on news websites.
Younger people (aged 18-34) were more likely to take all actions except for posting comments on news sites.
Importance of online media for news and information
Q. How important are the following online media to you personally for news and information?
|
Total very/quite important |
Very important |
Quiet important |
A little important |
Not important |
Can’t say |
|
|
52% |
24% |
28% |
26% |
19% |
3% |
|
| Newspaper websites |
43% |
17% |
26% |
29% |
24% |
4% |
| Other news websites |
41% |
14% |
27% |
29% |
27% |
4% |
|
28% |
13% |
15% |
23% |
48% |
2% |
|
| Websites about social and political campaigns |
16% |
4% |
12% |
21% |
57% |
6% |
| Blogs |
12% |
3% |
9% |
21% |
62% |
6% |
|
9% |
3% |
6% |
8% |
75% |
8% |
Google is the most important source of news and information (52% very/quite important). Although Facebook tends to be used more frequently, it is not as important as news websites for news and information.
Google is more important to – aged 18-24 (71% very/quite important), aged 25-34 (59%) and incomes over $1,600 pw (57%).
Newspaper websites are more important to – aged 25-34 (54% very/quite important) and incomes over $1,000 pw (51%).
Other news websites are more important to – aged 25-34 (50% very/quite important).
Facebook is more important to – aged 18-24 (51% very/quite important) and aged 25-34 (43%).
Websites about social and political campaigns are more important to – aged 18-24 (23% very/quite important), aged 25-34 (25%) and Greens voters (33%).
Blogs are more important to – aged 18-24 (19% very/quite important), aged 25-34 (21%) and Greens voters (23%).
Twitter is more important to – aged 18-24 (17% very/quite important) and aged 25-34 (20%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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