Internet and New Media

Internet Usage Statistics
Table 4.5a: Internet Usage

Usage Statistics

  • Table Name: Usage of the Internet

  • Statistical Period: Number of individuals aged 10 and above who used the internet at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey.

  • Data Distribution:

    • Weekly usage hours by age group

    • Age Groups: 10-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, ≥65

Average Weekly Internet Usage Hours and Number of Users

Time Distribution (Hours)

  • <5 hours:

    • 10-14 years old: 6.9 ('000) (2.4%)

    • 15-24 years old: 6.0 ('000) (1.1%)

    • 25-34 years old: 14.3 ('000) (1.7%)

    • 35-44 years old: 20.1 ('000) (2.0%)

    • 45-54 years old: 26.9 ('000) (2.6%)

    • 55-64 years old: 73.9 ('000) (6.2%)

    • ≥65 years old: 242.0 ('000) (20.4%)

    • Total: 390.1 ('000) (6.4%)

  • 5-10 hours:

    • 10-14 years old: 14.6 ('000) (5.0%)

    • 15-24 years old: 16.2 ('000) (2.9%)

    • 25-34 years old: 27.2 ('000) (3.2%)

    • Total: 359.6 ('000) (30.8%)

  • 10-20 hours:

    • 10-14 years old: 42.8 ('000) (14.5%)

    • 15-24 years old: 36.1 ('000) (10.8%)

Average Time for 15-24 Age Group

  • Average Time: 44.0 hours

  • Majority:

    • 14.6% used approximately 10-20 hours

    • 21.8% used approximately 5-10 hours

Weekly Internet Usage Statistics

  • 20-30 hours users:

    • Number: 60.0 ('000) (7.1%)

  • 30-40 hours users:

    • Number: 61.3 ('000) (25.4%)

  • 40-50 hours users:

    • Number: 52.9 ('000) (10.6%)

  • ≥70 hours users:

    • Number: 13.1 ('000) (3.5%)

Summary

  • Total Internet Users and Average Hours:

    • Total: 6,110.7 ('000)

    • Average Usage Hours: 34.5 hours

Notes

  • Remark: Figures in parentheses are percentages, representing the proportion of the total number of persons in a specific age group among all persons aged 10 and above who used the internet at least once a week during the reference period.

  • Data Source: Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (2023).

Table 4.6b: Social Network Usage

Usage Statistics

  • Table Name: Social Network Usage

  • Statistical Period: Individuals aged 10 and above who engaged in social network activities at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Weekly Social Network Usage Hours and Number of Users

Time Distribution (Hours)

  • <5 hours:

    • 10-14 years old: 51.5 ('000) (18.0%)

    • 15-24 years old: 51.2 ('000) (9.1%)

    • 25-34 years old: 90.7 ('000) (13.1%)

    • Total: 128.2 ('000) (21.8%)

  • 5-<10 hours users:

    • Number: 256.6 ('000) (30.8%)

  • 10-20 hours users:

    • The average weekly social network usage time for the 15-24 age group was 18.6 hours.

  • Majority:

    • 33.1% used approximately 10-20 hours

    • 21.8% used approximately 5-10 hours

Overall Social Network Usage Status

  • Total Social Internet Users: 6,053.3 ('000)

  • Average Social Usage Time: 13.9 hours

  • Social Networking: 2.5 hours

    • Online Gaming: 1.8 hours

    • Streaming Videos: 3.2 hours

    • Browsing Content: 2.0 hours

    • Other Activities: 4.4 hours

Primary Devices Used by Adolescents for Internet Access

Figure 4-6: Percentage of Device Usage

  • Primary Devices:

    • Mobile Phone: 95.07%

    • Tablet: 18.44%

    • Desktop PC: 14.65%

  • Location:

    • Home: 100%

    • School: 95.07%

    • Internet cafes and public places usage time: 37%

Gender Differences

  • Adolescents show gender differences in their level of concern for the above content.

Conclusion
Course Outline

  • Main Topics:

    • Definition and Background of the Internet

    • Progress of the Internet in China

    • Impact of the Internet on Economy and Politics

    • Influencer Economy and its Consumption Patterns

    • Changes in Government-Society Interaction

Definitions

  • Internet: A global network of computers that provides instant links to a progressively expanding web of information (Scott, 2014).

  • New Media: Generally refers to computer-mediated media content applied to emerging communication and social interaction phenomena (Chandler & Munday, 2020a).

Case Studies

  • Music Videos and Influencers: The case of Justin Bieber and his rise through social media.

Impact of New Media

  • The complexity of self-expression and social relationships shaped by new media.

Relationship Between Influencers and E-commerce

  • The role of influencers in e-commerce, driving the consumer economy.

Government Surveillance and Internet Management

  • Control and Regulation: Examples of the Chinese government's mechanisms for managing and inspecting social media and the internet.

  • The role and impact of tools such as the real-name internet system, cyber police, etc.

Conclusion

  • The development of the internet has had a significant impact on various aspects of Chinese society, including changes in economic, social, and cultural spheres.