Abstract

With the recent exponential increase in Internet use, there are concerns about obstacles to access to this potentially beneficial technology. To understand the psychological factors that might be offering barriers to Internet usage, the present study considered age, attitudes towards computers, gender, education and social isolation as potential predictors of Internet usage. A sample of 158 adults completed questionnaires on computer anxiety, loneliness, and Internet use. Overall time spent on the Internet, and the time spent in activities associated with entertainment, communication, information searches, and commerce were analysed using multiple regression. It was difficult to predict overall Internet use, but possible to predict specific categories of usage. Better educated participants were more likely to use the Internet for communication. Men, the young and the lonely used the Internet more for entertainment. Those with lower computer anxiety used the Internet for information searches, and men were more likely than women to use the Internet for commercial purposes. It is suggested that computer anxiety and education may constrain use of specific applications, but otherwise Internet use follows pre-existing tendencies or interests.