Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna im. Janusza Korczaka w Warszawie Latvia: Internet usage and digital skills Svetlana Usca

W HY IS INTERNET SO IMPORTANT ? It is PERSONAL INTERACTIVE GLOBAL IMMEDIATE FREE OF CHARGE or almost free of charge It is easy to SHARE It assists you in CREATIVE PROCESS

A VAILABILITY OF COMPUTERS AND INTERNET IN LATVIA (% OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS )

In 2012, the proportion of regular internet users in Latvia reached EU average. In 2013, Latvians were average users of the internet. 71 % of the population now goes online regularly In 2013, the computer on daily basis was used by: 81.7% young adults between 13 and 14 years of age 98% young adults between 15 and 24 years of age 85 % young adults between 25 and 54 years of age 37 % young adults between 55 and 74 years of age

The proportion of regular internet users is affected by: The level of education : internet is regularly used by 91 % of population why have the university degree, 67% - the secondary education and by only 55 % of population why have basic education; Location: internet is regularly used by 73% of urban and 66 % of rural population. Riga from all thee capitals of the Baltic States has the proportionally highest number of internet users compared to the population of entire country - 39%

U SAGE OF MOBILE INTERNET In 2013, viewing of internet websites from the mobile devices in Latvia constituted 6% of the total internet flow. It is by 2 percentage points more than during the same period a year ago, when the portion of mobile internet made 4%. Top 5 mobile devices Apple – 38% Samsung - 34% Nokia – 8 % LG – 5 % HTC – 4 %

RESULTS OF THE SURVEY „H ABITS OF MOBILE PHONE AND INTERNET USE AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS ”. Availability of internet 30% can access the internet at any time and place; 18% use economic data transmission rates; 14% may use hte internet when it is really necessary; 38% use the internet, when free of charge Wi-Fi is available; 30% indicated that the internet is not available. Usage 44% use mobile phone for browsing social networks; 42% use it for chatting; 37% use it for browsing different internet websites; 14% use it for purposes Regularity 23% use it every day, 20% use it almost every day 18% use it 1 – 2 a week

INTERNET SKILLS (%)

I NTERNET USAGE GOALS ; 2012 (% OF INTERNET USERS ) EULatvia Reading of news, newspapers and magazines online or their downloading 6288 Usage of Searching of information on goods and services 8486 Use of internet banking 5464 Phone conversations or video calls in internet 3561 Playing games, downloading of images, movies or music 4753 Posting notes on chat sites, in social networks, blogs, etc Listening to radio/ watching TV in internet 4544 Downloading of self-created content on any website 3644 Playing network-based games with others 1415 Creation of websites or blogs 98 Scheduling doctor’s visit on the website of the medical establishment 113 Selling goods or services online 225

Studies show that: The longest time on the internet is spent by the residents of Rezekne – in average of 31 hours and 52 minutes per month The residents of Riga spend on the internet in average of 21 hours and 38 minutes per month Of young adults aged between 13 and 14: 25% use internet every day up to 2h (inclusive); 41% use internet daily from 2h to 4h; 31% use internet each day for a period exceeding 4h.

I MPACT ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH 26% of adolescents at least sometimes feel enthusiastic even from just a thought about games, internet, etc. 17 % adolescents feel anxiety and excitement, but 19 % become angry, if anybody tries to limit their time or take them away from their activities on computer; 11 % sometimes tell lies to hide their interest in computer; 10 % of adolescents have noticed headaches, dizziness and other symptoms; 4% of adolescents have noticed pain in neck and back; 5% have noticed physical fatigue.

T HANK FOR YOUR ATTENTION