According to research published on March 6 by Directgov, the UK government’s “super site,” the majority of British Web users only visit six Web sites on a regular basis. In addition, 95 percent say that they go online with a specific destination in mind.
Now, I’ve searched high and low for the original report (it was published by the UK Internet magazine Webuser), but was unable to find it. I really wanted to see it because I think this study has huge implications. Most importantly, if one of the sites people go to is a search engine then the report’s conclusions make sense. Search engines allow people to access the full scope of the Web, including consumer-generated content.
However, if they are not, then I’m not so sure about the veracity of the report’s conclusions. This is because I was given to understand that with the advent of Web 2.0, people were no longer on relying on a few sites, or “information authorities,” for content.
In healthcare, I can understand people relying on only a few sites for information – at least initially. If most people are like me, then go to a few popular healthcare sites, like WebMD, first to research a condition. Then, they go to a search engine to find out more. This is how people are exposed to healthcare information contained in blogs, wikis and other consumer-generated Web sites.
If the British report’s conclusions can be applied globally, does this mean that people are only relying on a few Web sites for information? If so, what does this mean for blogs and other Web 2.0 Internet technologies, which are generating content on a regular basis? Are most people ignoring these information sources?
Based on what I know about Internet usage patterns, I think people are getting content from blogs, wikis and other Web 2.0 sources – even if they can’t distinguish them from a “normal” Web site. So, in short, I think the answer to my questions is “no.”
I’d love to see the full report so that I could better understand what the implications of these data are. Until then, I’ll just have to be a little bit skeptical about it.
For another take on this report, please see On Social Marketing and Social Change.
Now, I’ve searched high and low for the original report (it was published by the UK Internet magazine Webuser), but was unable to find it. I really wanted to see it because I think this study has huge implications. Most importantly, if one of the sites people go to is a search engine then the report’s conclusions make sense. Search engines allow people to access the full scope of the Web, including consumer-generated content.
However, if they are not, then I’m not so sure about the veracity of the report’s conclusions. This is because I was given to understand that with the advent of Web 2.0, people were no longer on relying on a few sites, or “information authorities,” for content.
In healthcare, I can understand people relying on only a few sites for information – at least initially. If most people are like me, then go to a few popular healthcare sites, like WebMD, first to research a condition. Then, they go to a search engine to find out more. This is how people are exposed to healthcare information contained in blogs, wikis and other consumer-generated Web sites.
If the British report’s conclusions can be applied globally, does this mean that people are only relying on a few Web sites for information? If so, what does this mean for blogs and other Web 2.0 Internet technologies, which are generating content on a regular basis? Are most people ignoring these information sources?
Based on what I know about Internet usage patterns, I think people are getting content from blogs, wikis and other Web 2.0 sources – even if they can’t distinguish them from a “normal” Web site. So, in short, I think the answer to my questions is “no.”
I’d love to see the full report so that I could better understand what the implications of these data are. Until then, I’ll just have to be a little bit skeptical about it.
For another take on this report, please see On Social Marketing and Social Change.
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