Over a year the number of Russians who go online to buy furniture, appliances and use online banking and electronic state services has increased.
MOSCOW, December 16, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how the pandemic shaped the Russian online behavior, and whether Russians can live without the Internet.
How has the pandemic shaped the online behavior?
Since February 2020, the number of daily Internet users has creased by 3 p.p. and hit 72%. Only 17% of Russians do not use the Internet.
Internet is predominantly used for communication: 90% communicate with friends and family online, and 83% get informed about regional, federal and world news (83%).
Changes were spotted in online banking: more Russians now use e-banking (+ 8p.p.) compared to February 2020. More respondents use e-Government services (64%; + 7 p.p.) and go online to buy domestic appliances and furniture (42%).
I will read out a list of activities; please tell me if you use the Internet for the following purposes? (closed-ended question, one answer per line % of Internet users, shown are “I use the Internet” answers)
The pandemic did not make Russians use the Internet for learning purposes, job or entertainment more than before. When it comes to essentials, Russians still prefer to buy them offline (27%; +3 p.p.).
Living offline
Due to the pandemic and lockdown, the levels of the Internet usage have not changed: if the Internet disappears, it will completely change the life of 13% of respondents; 41% say it will considerably change their life but they will be able to adapt to it. In February 2020, these shares were 13% and 42%, respectively.
If the Internet disappears tomorrow, how much will it change your life? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of Internet users)
Over the past year, there has been a decline in the number of young respondents aged 18-24 who cannot imagine their life without the Internet (24% vs. 34% in February).
Most of Russians still agree that it is important to take a break from the Internet today; but this share has decreased by 7 p.p. since 2018 and by 3 p.p. since the start of 2020 (70%). This opinion is less likely to be favored by young Russians aged 18-24 (55%). On the contrary, every fourth respondent believes that in the modern world it is important to always stay connected (27%).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on December 8, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Do you use the Internet? If so, how often? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of Internet users) | ||||||||||||
| Q1 2011 | Q1 2012 | Q1 2013 | Q1 2014 | Q1 2015 | Q1 2016 | Q1 2017 | Q1 2018 | Q1 2019 | Q1 2020 | Q1 2020 | |
Almost every day | 28 | 37 | 42 | 45 | 51 | 53 | 56 | 62 | 66 | 69 | I spend more than 4 hours online every day | 31 |
I use the Internet every day, less than 4 hours a day | 41 | |||||||||||
Several times a week | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | |
Several times a month | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
Occasionally but at least once every six months | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
Never | 48 | 41 | 34 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
I will read out a list of activities; please tell me if you use the Internet for the following purposes? (closed-ended question, one answer per line % of Internet users) | ||||
| Year | I use the Internet | I do not use the Internet | I do not do this |
Communicating with family and friends | 2018 | 79 | 15 | 5 |
Communicating with family and friends | Feb 2020
| 88 | 9 | 3 |
Communicating with family and friends | Dec 2020 | 90 | 7 | 3 |
Getting news about your city, country and the world | 2018 | 85 | 12 | 3 |
Getting news about your city, country and the world | Feb 2020
| 83 | 11 | 6 |
Getting news about your city, country and the world | Dec 2020 | 83 | 9 | 8 |
Entertainment: cinema, books, games | 2018 | 71 | 23 | 6 |
Entertainment: cinema, books, games | Feb 2020
| 75 | 17 | 8 |
Entertainment: cinema, books, games | Dec 2020 | 73 | 18 | 9 |
Online banking : transfers | 2018 | 68 | 25 | 7 |
Online banking : transfers | Feb 2020
| 72 | 17 | 11 |
Online banking : transfers | Dec 2020 | 80 | 11 | 8 |
Paying bills | 2018 | 60 | 33 | 7 |
Paying bills | Feb 2020
| 68 | 22 | 10 |
Paying bills | Dec 2020 | 70 | 18 | 12 |
Education, self-learning | 2018 | 67 | 25 | 8 |
Education, self-learning | Feb 2020
| 63 | 22 | 15 |
Education, self-learning | Dec 2020 | 65 | 18 | 17 |
E-government: submitting documents, obtaining certificates | 2018 | 57 | 33 | 10 |
E-government: submitting documents, obtaining certificates | Feb 2020
| 57 | 29 | 14 |
E-government: submitting documents, obtaining certificates | Dec 2020 | 64 | 23 | 14 |
Work, professional duties | 2018 | 51 | 37 | 12 |
Work, professional duties | Feb 2020
| 49 | 32 | 19 |
Work, professional duties | Dec 2020 | 51 | 29 | 20 |
Buying durable goods and services: domestic appliances, furniture, etc. | 2018 | 41 | 48 | 11 |
Buying durable goods and services: domestic appliances, furniture, etc. | Feb 2020 | 35 | 45 | 20 |
Buying durable goods and services: domestic appliances, furniture, etc. | Dec 2020 | 42 | 39 | 19 |
Buying everyday essentials: foods, cleaning products, etc. | 2018 | 14 | 72 | 14 |
Buying everyday essentials: foods, cleaning products, etc. | Feb 2020
| 24 | 55 | 21 |
Buying everyday essentials: foods, cleaning products, etc. | Dec 2020 | 27 | 52 | 21 |
If the Internet disappears tomorrow, how much will it change your life? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of Internet users) | ||||
| 2017 | 2018 | Feb 2020 | Dec 2020 |
It will change my life completely; I do not know if I will be able to perform my everyday activities without the Internet | 5 | 8 | 13 | 13 |
It will change my life dramatically but I will be able to adapt to the changes | 27 | 39 | 42 | 41 |
It will change hardly anything in my life | 31 | 30 | 25 | 25 |
It will not change anything in my life | 36 | 22 | 20 | 20 |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
If the Internet disappears tomorrow, how much will it change your life? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of Internet users) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
It will change my life completely; I do not know if I will be able to perform my everyday activities without the Internet | 13 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 8 |
It will change my life dramatically but I will be able to adapt to the changes | 41 | 39 | 39 | 42 | 46 | 36 |
It will change hardly anything in my life | 25 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 29 | 28 |
It will not change anything in my life | 20 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 27 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Some people believe that today it is important for people to disconnect from the Internet from time to time or to limit time spent online. Others believe that it is important to always stay connected in the modern world. Which statement do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of Internet users) | |||
| 2018 | Feb 2020 | Dec 2020 |
In the modern world it is important to take a break from the Internet, to limit screen time or to block your own access to the Internet | 77 | 73 | 70 |
In the modern world you have to always stay connected | 19 | 24 | 27 |
Don’t know | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.