Internet gains one million new surfers

Jane Wakefield ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 02 May 2000 16:45 BST

The Internet goes mainstream as more than a million new users go online in just six months according to Internet measurement firm MMXI Europe.

The UK Internet population has grown from 7,820,000 in October 1999 to 9,209,000 in March 2000. Time spent online has also increased, up from 257 minutes per month to 276.

The digital divide is also closing slightly according to the latest research. Upmarket AB social group has dropped from 39 percent of the online population to 35 percent with CI and C2 social grades gaining six percent of the online head count.

The Net is still the domain of the young though, with 25-34 year-olds making up 24 percent of the Internet population. The proportion of men and women going online also remains the same. 52 percent of all surfers are men compared to 34.8 percent which are female.

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