Almost three quarters of young people have encountered untrue or dubious information or content on the Internet

She used the Internet several times a day. like half of the elders

In the 1st quarter of this year, 90 % persons (in 2022: 89 %), aged 16–74 years, 87 % used the Internet every day or almost every day (in 2022: 86 %) and 85 % moreÄ&1TP 5T141 times per day. The largest number of the latter was among young people or 16–24-year-olds (99 %), and the least in the age group 65–74 years (55 %; in 2022: 51 %). 8 % inhabitants have never used the Internet (in 2022: 9 %).

The smartphone was most often used to access the Internet (87 %) – among all persons aged 16–34 years and 56 % in the age group 65–74 years (in 2021: 49 %). 47 % residents accessed the Internet via a laptop computer, 35 % via a desktop computer, 18 % via a tablet and the same number via other devices, e.g. smart TV, smart speaker, game console or e-reader. 

94 % households with at least one resident had access to the Internet from home (in 2022: 93 %).

77 % residents used the Internet to find information about goods or services, 69 % to read online news, newspapers or magazines, 63 % used online social media such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, and 61 % services e-banking. A fifth (20 %) published or liked opinions on social or political topics.

57 % residents made a call or video call via programs such as Skype, Zoom and Viber, and 51 % searched for health information on the Internet. Compared to 2021, when the covid-19 epidemic was declared, both shares decreased.

Untrue or dubious information or content seen several times. like half of the population

53 % residents (or around 826,820) saw untrue or dubious information or content on news websites or social media, e.g. text, video, image. Among young people, 73 % encountered such information or content.

Among those who noticed false or dubious information or content, 36 % (that's about 295,450 people) checked its seriousness. Most of them were among young people (50 %), and the least among 55–64-year-olds (23 %).

The truth of the false information or content was verified in various ways (most answers were possible). Most of them, 78 %, checked data sources or looked for other information, e.g. on another news website or Wikipedia. 38 % of them used other, non-online sources of data or they discussed the information with other persons, but not via the Internet, 34 % of them followed the discussion about the veracity of such information on the Internet or participated in it.

The remaining 64 % residents (or around 531,370), who saw false or dubious information or content on news websites or social media, did not verify its veracity. The reasons for this were different (several answers were possible). Almost half of them already knew that the information, content or source was unreliable (71 %), 16 % did not have adequate knowledge (e.g. they did not know how to check the information, or it was too demanding for them), 21 %, however, did not verify their veracity for other reasons.

Individuals are most often the targets of hateful or humiliating messages on the Internet because of political or social beliefs.

False information and hate speech have become part of online content and social media. In the 1st quarter of this year, 44 % residents noticed hateful or humiliating messages towards certain groups or individuals on the Internet, e.g. in social media, blogs, videos, on news websites (also in comment sections). The share of such was the largest in the age groups 25– years (57 %) and 16–24 years (53 %), and the smallest in the group 65– 74 years (26 %).

Among those who encountered the mentioned hostile messages, most of them are noticed that individuals or groups were targeted because of their political or social beliefs (81 %). Almost half (45 %) believed that they were targeted because of their sexual orientation (LGBTIQ+), 43 % because of race or ethnic origin, and 42 % because of religious beliefs.