The importance of the internet in people’s lives continues to increase
Based on the study conducted by Mail.Ru Group, 81% of respondents use the internet on a daily basis and repeatedly throughout the day. A poll by the Public Opinion Fund in 2019 showed that 76% of Russians have used the internet at some point. In contrast, in 2000, only 3.6% of respondents answered positively to the question about internet use.
The survey revealed that the majority of people use the Internet for social media communication (64%), playing games (62%), searching for information (58%), watching videos (56%), and listening to music (55%). In contrast, in 2000, users had different preferences. The top 5 priorities included searching for information (43%), computers and software (27%), news (27%), playing games (25%), humor (24%), and music (23%).
Top 5 Demands of the Russian Internet (RuNet)
Smartphones win
71% of the respondents use smartphones as their primary device to go online, followed by 62% who use laptops, 52% who use PCs, 37% who use tablets, and 28% who use Smart TVs.
The significant trend in recent years is the growth of mobile internet
The increase in internet activity is largely due to women (71% compared to 61% for men) and people under the age of 45. Additionally, users report using laptops (44%) and PCs (42%) more frequently for online activities. A third of respondents (29%) also reported an increase in their use of tablets for internet browsing.
Online video is the most commonly watched content by people
According to the study results, the most popular online activity is video watching, with 74% of users reporting watching videos online within the last year. The study also found a shift in online consumption patterns towards seeking convenient services that simplify daily routines. The second and third most popular activities were ordering taxis (45%) and buying/selling goods through online bulletin boards (43%). Additionally, 30% of respondents reported ordering food online, while 18% visited online educational platforms. Two-thirds of respondents (67%) believe that online education will become the main form of education in 25 years.
Common social media activities
Social media is the most popular online activity for Russian internet users. According to a survey, 73% of respondents spend more than three hours a day on social media, while 36% use messengers and 31% use email services. Almost two thirds of the respondents (63%) have been using social media for more than six years. The most common actions on social media include viewing friends’ photos and videos (68%), chatting (64%), liking and commenting on posts (53%), reading and posting in groups (48%), and uploading personal photos and videos (47%).
The Russian Internet meets the needs of different generations
The Russian Internet meets the needs of different age groups. The survey revealed that listening to music is an essential part of the daily routine for 39% of users aged 14-24. On the other hand, search services are more popular among people aged 45 and above, with 45% of respondents using them actively. Contrary to the stereotype that younger audiences spend more time playing video games, the study found that 58% of respondents under 35 and those over 35 years old spend three or more hours a day playing games.
Online Habits of Men and Women
Over half of the male respondents (58%) believe that the Internet will help people become happier in 25 years (compared to 49% of women). Both men and women equally participate in playing games (63% and 62%, respectively). Women tend to be more addicted to the Internet than men, with 53% of women unable to imagine their day without social media, compared to 41% of men. Additionally, women have a greater need to search for information, watch movies, and communicate online in various ways.
Comparison between the Russian Internet’s past and future
The experts conducted a poll among the audience of the Mail.Ru Group blog on Habr portal to explore the early days of the RuNet and how people utilized it. The poll had 1,700 participants, and according to its results, 66% of respondents have been using the Internet for more than 16 years. Rambler (60%), Mail.ru (58%), and Yandex (49%) were the top three resources that marked the beginning of the RuNet, as mentioned by the respondents. Other websites, such as Anekdot.ru (34%), Google (34%), Altavista.com (33%), Bash.org (33%), and Lib.ru (32%), were also mentioned by one-third of the participants.
The Future of the Internet in Russia
The majority of respondents (79%) believe that the Internet will provide us with greater opportunities for development in the future. Additionally, 78% believe that voice assistants will become essential, and 64% are certain that we will use VR glasses, headsets, and other smart devices on a daily basis. Furthermore, 70% of respondents believe that artificial intelligence will replace many jobs within the next 25 years.
In March 2019, a survey was carried out in collaboration with ResearchMe, a marketing research partner of Mail.Ru Group. The survey involved 9,600 Russian internet users who participated through their desktop and mobile devices. Additionally, the company utilized data from the Public Opinion Fund and a survey of the audience on the Mail.Ru Group blog on the Habr portal.
Source: https://adindex.ru/news/researches/2019/04/5/271189.phtml