Summary

While there are now over 20 million Pakistanis online a number which is growing rapidly there is very little documentation or research on how the internet is being used in the country. This online survey, conducted through The Express Tribune and Express Urdu websites aimed to capture a snapshot of the local internet users perspective. Both English and Urdu sites and their social media accounts were used to promote the survey in order to capture a wider, more diverse audience. The survey was conducted over July 28-29, 2013. A total of 1,100 respondents filled out the survey, of which 18-25 year olds make up over half of total respondents, followed by 25-35 year olds. The survey also highlighted a large gender disparity in respondents, with males dominating. This trend has been highlighted in the past; Pakistans Facebook audience was 70% male, 30% female as of April 2013. The vast majority of respondents (94%) are from urban areas, led by Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Key findings
Laptops are the most used device (81% of total respondents) to connect to the internet. Mobile phones (65%) outranked desktop computers (47%) for accessing the internet. A vast majority of respondents (97%) have high speed internet connections. Dial-up internet use is almost negligible. Over half of respondents (60%) pay Rs1,500 or less per month for their internet connections. A majority of respondents use the internet over 5 hours a day, followed by those who use the internet 4-5 hours a day. Over 90% of respondents often use the internet at home, as compared to often outside (16%) and often at work (52%). Social networks/chatting is the number one activity for respondents, followed closely by email and news. Shopping online registered low with respondents. Nearly all respondents are on Facebook. Twitter and LinkedIn are both used by at least half of respondents. More than half of respondents say they have befriended someone on a social network whom they have never met. Additionally, 41% say they have met someone in the real world whom they have only met online. Over 30% of respondents say they have become romantically involved through the internet. More than half of respondents have made a purchase online. A greater number of respondents (56%) have made a purchase online, as compared to selling something online (26%). More than half of respondents never click on an online ad. In terms of video content, entertainment, news and educational videos all ranked high for respondents. Respondents indicated they access videos nearly equally for news/documentaries, movies/movie clips and music. A majority of respondents (82%) have used proxies or other means to access blocked content.

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AGE
Under 18 18-25 25-35 Over 35

7%

5%

32%

56%

HIGHLIGHTS A vast majority of respondents are young. This is to be expected given Pakistans youth bulge and previous reports that have shown a similar breakup. 18-25 year olds make up over half of total respondents, followed by 25-35 year olds.

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SEX
Male Female

13%

87%

HIGHLIGHTS There is a large gender disparity in respondents, with males dominating. This trend has been highlighted in the past; Pakistans Facebook audience was 70% male, 30% female as of April 2013. Further disparity in this survey may be due to it being conducted on news websites.

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LOCATION
6%

19%
Karachi Lahore Islamabad Other (urban area)

30%

Other (rural area)

21% 24%

HIGHLIGHTS The vast majority of respondents (94%) are from urban areas. Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad have the largest number of respondents.

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Which of the following devices do you use to connect to the internet?

Desktop computer Laptop Tablet Mobile phone

22% 30%

11% 37%

HIGHLIGHTS Laptops are the most used device to connect to the internet. Mobile phones (30%) outranked desktop computers for accessing the internet.

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How do you connect to the internet?

Dial-up Broadband/DSL/Wifi or other high speed connection 2% Mobile

26%

72%

HIGHLIGHTS A vast majority of respondents have high speed internet connections. Dial-up internet use is almost negligible.

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How much do you spend per month on your internet connection(s)?

Below Rs500 Rs500-1,500 Rs1,500-3,000 Over Rs3,000 7% 7%

33%

53%

HIGHLIGHTS Over half of respondents (60%) pay Rs1,500 or less per month for their internet connections. INSIGHT Those over 35 had a much higher percentage (14%) of those who spent over Rs3,000 per month.

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How many hours do you use the internet daily?

0-1 hours 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 2% 4% 15% 4-5 hours Over 5 hours

59%

20%

HIGHLIGHTS A majority of respondents use the internet over 5 hours a day, followed by those who use the internet 4-5 hours a day. INSIGHT 25-35 year olds spend the most time on the internet (64% said they were online over 5 hours), while both those over 35 and those under 18 spent less time online (49% over 5 hours each). Males used the internet for longer hours than females. 60% of males said they use the internet over 5 hours a day, compared to 52% of females.

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What time do you generally use the internet?

4% 4% 9% Morning Afternoon Evening Night Always connected 64% 19%

HIGHLIGHTS A majority of respondents indicate they consider themselves always connected to the internet. Night time had the highest number of users, out of the periods of day listed. INSIGHT Those over 35 indicated they were always connected more than other age groups 76% of those over 35 said they were always connected.

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Where do you use the internet?

Outside
Never Sometimes Often 0 24%

60% 16%
20 40 60 80 100

Home
Never Sometimes Often 1%

7%
92%

20

40

60

80

100

Work
Never Sometimes Often 0 20 40 20% 28% 52% 60 80 100

HIGHLIGHTS Over 90% of respondents often use the internet at home.

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How often do you use the internet for the following activities?
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 22% 11% 83% 76% 75% 63% 63% 58% 55% 2% 15% 2% 22% 2% 23% 35% 28% 2% 9% 5% 23% 45%

37%

44%

Often

Sometimes

Never

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS Social networks/chatting is the number one activity for respondents (83% often use), followed closely by email (76%) and news (75%). Shopping online registered low with respondents. INSIGHT Females used the internet for education/research a lot more than males. 76% of females said they often used the internet for education/research, while only 61% of males said the same. Older age is directly linked to greater email use, with those over 35 using email often the most, and those under 18 using email often the least. This was seen across all age groups. 11 | P a g e

Younger age is directly linked to using the internet for entertainment, with those under 18 using the internet for entertainment often the most, and those over 35, the least. This was seen across all age groups. Those under 18 used the internet for religious purposes more than other age groups, with 32% indicating they use the internet often for religious purposes. Those over 35 used the internet for religious purposes the least, with 16% indicating usage often. Those aged 25-35 and over 35 used the internet for work more than the younger age groups. Females indicated they used the internet for work often (70% of all females) more than males (62% of all males).

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Have you ever:

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Become romantical ly involved through the internet Series 1 Had someone give you false informatio n about themselve s online 36% Given Hacked/tr your Pretended ied to hack to be a password into an to a friend different online or person account/w online someone ebsite you know Befriende d people Faced on social online networks harassme whom you nt have never met

Earned money online

Met someone in the real world you have only met online

32%

27%

27%

17%

21%

13%

59%

41%

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS More than half of respondents say they have befriended someone on a social network whom they have never met. Additionally, 41% say they have met someone in the real world whom they have only met online. Reports of online harassment were low, possibly due to gender disparity of respondents. Over 30% of respondents say they have become romantically involved through the internet. A small but significant number (17%) say they have hacked into an online account or website.

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Which of the following social networks are you on?

100 90 80 70
69% 96%

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Series 1
21% 50%

11%

10%

Facebook 96

Twitter 69

LinkedIn 50

Instagram 21

Pinterest 11

Tumblr 10

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS Nearly all respondents are on Facebook. Twitter and LinkedIn are both used by at least half of respondents.

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Have you ever purchased/sold anything online?

Purchased online
Yes No

Sold online
Yes No

26% 44%

56%
74%

HIGHLIGHTS More than half of respondents have made a purchase online. A greater number of respondents (56%) have made a purchase online, as compared to selling something online (26%). INSIGHT Those aged 18-25 and 25-35 indicated they had made a purchase online more than those over 35 and under 18. 65% of those 25-35 have made a purchase online, while 51% of those 18-25 have bought something online. Far more males indicated they have sold something online, as compared to females. Only 11% of females said they have sold something online, as compared to 28% of males.

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Do you use a webcam?

Often Sometimes Never

19%

21%

60%

HIGHLIGHTS Most respondents use a webcam only sometimes (60%).

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Do you access videos online?

Yes No 8%

92%

HIGHLIGHTS Almost all respondents access videos online.

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What kind of content do you generally access on video hosting sites?

100 90 80 70

60
50 40 30 20 10 0
Music Series 1 75 75% 76% 61% 76% 68% 42% 31%

Videos from Movies/movi News/docum Educational friends/peer e clips entaries content s 76 61 76 68

Religious content 42

Other 31

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS Entertainment, news and education all ranked high for respondents. Respondents indicated they access videos nearly equally for news/documentaries, movies/movie clips and music. Religious content is the least viewed.

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Have you ever used a proxy or other means to access blocked content?
Yes No

18%

82%

HIGHLIGHTS A majority of respondents (82%) have used proxies or other means to access blocked content.

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Do you have a blog/have published a blog post online?

Yes No

37%

63%

HIGHLIGHTS More than half of respondents do not have a blog/have not published a post online.

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How often do you browse?

Pakistani sites
Never

3%

Sometimes

33%

Often

64% 0 20 40 60 80 100

Foreign sites

Never

1%

Sometimes

15%

Often

84%

20

40

60

80

100

HIGHLIGHTS A greater number of respondents browse foreign sites more often (84%) than Pakistani ones (64%).

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How often do you click an online ad?

Often Sometimes Never 4%

39%
57%

HIGHLIGHTS More than half of respondents never click on an online ad. INSIGHT Those who are younger click on online ads far less. 67% of those under 18 said they never click online ads, as compared to those over 35 (51%). This was seen across all age groups. Females are more unlikely to click an online ad, as compared to males. 57% of females say they have never clicked on an online ad, as compared to 51% of males.

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