2. Assessment of the benefits and risks of the Internet

A wide variety of advantages

The population associates a range of advantages with the Internet. Over 60 % associate the Internet with convenient and easy access to any information they require at the time, the ability to use it whenever they like, the opportunity of rapid access to current events and the fact that most information is available for free. 61 % value the scope of the service, and in particular the option of acquiring an overview of products and services online and being able to compare prices at the same time. Around half of people emphasise that using the Internet for shopping or banking transactions saves them a lot of time and means that they don’t have to make long journeys, and a large percentage of the population also mention the importance of the Internet for personal communication and entertainment. For 44 %, another advantage of the Internet lies in the fact that it is relatively easy to make contact with other people or to remain in touch with friends and acquaintances, and 38 % of the population refer to the option of downloading programs, music and images from the Internet. For 32 %, the additional option of using other media online such as radio, television or magazines represents another advantage of the Internet.

The urgency with which those who use the Internet several times a day emphasise the advantages of the Internet paints an even clearer picture. Around 80 % of the people in this group mention permanent access to information, the ease of access and the absence of attendant charges, and 57 % emphasise the fact that the Internet enables the acquisition of in-depth and detailed knowledge on a range of topics. 42 % are convinced that the Internet makes people aware of interesting topics and issues on a more regular basis. The intensive Internet users are significantly more sceptical when assessing freedom-related aspects of the Internet. The fact that there are very few regulations on the Internet and that users therefore have comparatively high levels of freedom is considered an advantage by 18 %. The responses to the question on the advantages of the Internet also confirm the more reserved interest in „share economy“ services. Even among the intensive users, only 17 % see the option of lending or borrowing items they require infrequently as an advantage of the Internet.

Advantages of the Internet

Advantages of the Internet

Given their specific spectrum of use, younger Internet users place significantly above-average emphasis on the whole range of possibilities offered by the Internet in terms of communication and entertainment. 74 % of under-30s, but a mere 37 % of users aged 60 and over, mention the high level of importance in establishing and maintaining contact with others. Two thirds of under-30s, but just under a third of older users, believe that the option to download content such as music and images onto their own computers is a key advantage. Likewise, the option of using different media at the same time is also of greater importance to the younger user group than the older user group.

In places highly age-related assessment of Internet advantages

In places highly age-related assessment of Internet advantages

From the perspective of many employees in particular, another advantage of the Internet lies in the fact that it gives users the option of occasionally working away from the actual workplace, e.g. from home. 46 % of employees view this as an advantage, along with the associated option of arranging and organising their working hours in a more flexible manner. However, 24 % are convinced that this opportunity also comes with disadvantages, as employees can be reached at any time, and there is the risk that employees will no longer have regular working hours. This factor is viewed as particularly advantageous by employees in managerial positions; 62 % of employees and civil servants in managerial positions have a positive appreciation of this option, while only 17 % express scepticism.

Many people view the option of increased flexibility in the organisation of working hours as an advantage

Many people view the option of increased flexibility in the organisation of working hours as an advantage

Of the employees and civil servants in managerial positions, a large percentage believe that this option would provide them with the opportunity to complete some of their work outside the office; 6 % of this occupational group already use the Internet to work from outside the office. Around half of this group believe in the feasibility of this option, irrespective of their employer’s approval. Lower- ranking employees and civil servants, and in particular workers on hourly wages, are a lot more reserved in their assessment: only 6 % of this last group believe that it would be possible to carry out work-related tasks from outside the workplace.

Employees in managerial positions in particular could complete some of their work from outside the office

Employees in managerial positions in particular could complete some of their work from outside the office

Personal experience contributes only partially to the concerns about risks

For all advantages offered by the Internet, a consideration of the concerns that users express reveals they also associate the Internet with numerous risks. This is particularly true with regard to the risk of personal computers becoming infected with viruses when surfing the net. This is something that 72 % of users frequently worry about, and 57 % are afraid that their online activities can be monitored relatively easily. A similarly large number of users worry that other people could gain unauthorised access to their computer, and one in two people are concerned that scammers could use falsified emails or Internet pages to try and access personal information such as passwords or account data or to misuse credit card numbers or bank details for their own purposes. Around 40% are worried that people could gain access to their email inboxes, their social network profiles or other personal data while they are on the Internet. Conversely, doubts relating to the credibility of information received via the Internet are relatively low, with 28 % of users worrying that this information might not be correct. 12 % are concerned that they could be bullied online or that they could spend too much time online and therefore end up neglecting family, friends or work-related tasks.

In most areas, there are only marginal differences between the concerns expressed by the individual user groups. People who use the Internet several times per day and for a comparatively wide range of applications are generally less worried (or not more worried) than those who use the Internet comparatively less frequently, and there is also very little difference between younger and older users. Merely the concerns of being bullied, insulted online or of spending too much time online are significantly age-related, and are mentioned with far greater frequency by the under-30s than by the older age groups.

Concerns about risks on the Internet

Concerns about risks on the Internet

The most common negative experiences with the Internet involve problems with viruses and the nuisance of spam e-mails, with 48 % of users reporting that their computers have already been infected with viruses and 44 % complaining that their e-mail accounts have been overwhelmed with spam. There are comparatively few reports of other negative experiences. Although 19 % of Internet users have personal experience of third parties using falsified e-mails or websites to try to gain access to information such as passwords or account data, only one in two people is concerned that this might happen to them. There is an even larger discrepancy in relation to actual fraud or unauthorised access to users‘ personal computers, e-mail accounts or social network profiles. Up to now, 3 % of users interviewed have been the victim of misuse of credit card numbers or bank details, 4 % have experienced third parties accessing their inboxes or profiles, and 6 % report that third parties have gained access to their personal computers. However, the fact that these types of misuse might occur remains one of the most commonly expressed concerns. People who use the Internet particularly intensively, i.e. several times per day, report more frequently of negative experiences. In frequent cases the link between many of the concerns about individual specific risks associated with Internet use and actual personal, negative experience is limited. However, it is important to consider when evaluating the results that viewed in absolute terms, even small percentages constitute a large number of people with the corresponding experience.

Negative experiences with the Internet

Negative experiences with the Internet

Equally, the concerns among many parents that their children could be faced with negative experiences on the Internet are quite rarely attributable to actual negative events; 49 % of parents with children under 18 share this concern, but only 10 % report that their children have indeed suffered this form of negative online experience to date.

Risks for parents‘ own children

Risks for parents' own children

The benefits outweigh the risks

Even though there are a range of concerns associated with the use of the Internet and negative experiences may indeed occur, both Internet users and the population as a whole continue to view the Internet in a positive light. The majority of users are convinced that the benefits offered by the Internet clearly outweigh the risks. 52 % of the population point primarily to the advantages of the Internet, whereas 15 % predominantly see risks. This pattern acquires even greater clarity among Internet users: 66 % primarily emphasise the advantages, and around half state that they significantly outweigh any disadvantages. Only 8 % believe that the Internet comes with a greater proportion of risks. People who use the Internet several times per day or have a wide spectrum of use are even more convinced of the advantages of the Internet.

The advantages far outweigh the risks

The advantages far outweigh the risks