1308.8 - In fACT - Statistical Information on the ACT and Region, May 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/05/2010   
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MEDIA RELEASE
May 11, 2010
Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEST)
50/2010
ACT leads the nation with internet usage: ABS

The ACT continues to lead the nation as the biggest users of both home computers (88%) and the internet (82%), according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The number of households in the ACT with home internet access more than tripled from 1998 to 2009. Over the same period, the ACT maintained the highest proportion of home internet connectivity of all states and territories.

In 2008-09, nearly all (92%) of internet connected ACT households used broadband, with only 8% using dial-up.

For children, education related activities (86%) were the most common reason to use the internet, while downloading of audio visual content (39%) was higher compared to the national average (29%).

The majority of ACT households have taken steps to protect their children's personal safety while using the internet at home, from passive methods such as educating children about safe and appropriate use of the internet (88%) to installing content filters (58%) and supervising and monitoring children's use of the internet (93%).

Further information can be found in the May 2010 issue of In fACT - Statistical Information on the ACT and Region (cat. no. 1308.8) available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au.