Britons increasingly fearful of internet risks, Ofcom research shows
British people are increasingly fearful of the risks posed by the internet, prompting greater support for more regulation following recent headlines about the theft of personal data and abusive online behaviour.
Research by the media regulator Ofcom found 78% of Britons expressed unprompted concerns about potentially harmful online experiences, a substantial rise from the previous year.
As a result, the vast majority of Britons now support increased government intervention in the online media industry, suggesting technology companies have lost the public relations battle against regulation following the Cambridge Analytica scandals and concerns about the impact of social networks on children’s mental health.
Ofcom’s annual Online Nation report found 70% of the public wanted more regulation of social media sites, up from 52% just a year ago. The last 12 months have seen heavy media attention over the suicide of the teenager Molly Russell, after her parents blamed her death on material she saw on Instagram, in addition to a continued focus on disinformation.
“As most of us spend more time than ever online, we’re increasingly worried about harmful content – and also more likely to come across it,” said Ofcom’s director for strategy and research, Yih-Choung Teh.
“For most people, those risks are still outweighed by the huge benefits of the internet. And while most internet users favour tighter rules in some areas, particularly social media, people also recognise the importance of protecting free speech – which is one of the internet’s great strengths.”
The figures were based on face-toface interviews with more than 2,000 Britons, commissioned by Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Both organisations have an interest in the future regulation of the internet, with the ICO recently setting out proposals for a controversial new code which could require websites to block children from their services.
The Ofcom research also draws on other sources to show the extent to which Britons are increasingly reliant on the internet for day-to-day tasks, citing ComScore figures that suggest the average British internet user now spends an average of 3 hours 15 minutes a day online – equivalent to 50 days a year.
Much of this time is spent on services owned by Google and Facebook, which together account for a third of all British internet usage. In return, the two companies suck up 61% of all British online advertising revenue.
However, there are signs Britons’ online habits are changing. Although Facebook remains the dominant social network among adults, Ofcom’s figures show that usage is slipping, with people increasingly active on Instagram and the messaging service WhatsApp. Luckily for Mark Zuckerberg, both are owned by Facebook.
The research also found that while only a quarter of British adults trusted Facebook to provide accurate information, more than half believed WhatsApp could deliver reliable information – despite growing concerns over the spread of disinformation on the encrypted message services.
There is also the continuation of a striking digital age divide, with one in eight Britons never using the internet at all – mainly older, poorer individuals.
Although almost every Briton under 35 is a regular internet user, half of over-75s never go online at all, according to the Ofcom media literacy tracker. These individuals may struggle to adapt if high street shops and banks continue to close as business shifts online, while councils and government departments increasingly push people to use digital services rather than maintaining public offices.
“However, despite the range of concerns expressed about going online, a majority of internet users believe that the benefits of going online outweigh the risks,” concluded Ofcom.
On Wednesday, I sat in a room with media executives working on a pitch for a series about the LPGA. We discussed multiple storylines that ranged across racial and social borders. Stories about South Korean, African American, Latina and white players. Stories about players who grew up in poverty but made it on tour; women who were born into privilege but are using their privilege for good. The LPGA is more diverse than many would have you believe: more than 25 countries are represented on tour this year. Last year, women from 10 different countries won tournaments.
Why does this matter? Because on Wednesday, Hank Haney, a golf instructor best known for coaching Tiger Woods during his prime, proved he knows little about women’s golf, but that he’s capable of spouting racist and sexist nonsense. Haney was asked by co-host Steve Johnson on their radio show about the Women’s US Open, which starts on Thursday.
“I’m gonna predict a Korean [will win],” Haney said.
“That’s a pretty safe bet,” Johnson replied.
“That’s gonna be my prediction. I couldn’t name you, like, six players on the LPGA Tour,” Haney said, before adding: “Well, I’d go with Lee. If I didn’t have to name a first name, I’d get a bunch of them right. I don’t know . ... Lexi Thompson . ... Michelle Wie’s hurt. I don’t know that many.”
Haney, who has since apologized for his comments, probably thought he was being funny. Instead his comments told us much about how little he values women’s golf. Jeehae Lee, a former LPGA player who moved to the US from South Korea in the sixth grade, responded on Twitter. “This is why @HankHaney’s comments hurt,” she wrote, “by publicly admitting that he sees a bunch of the same “Lee’s” on the LPGA, he has normalized the view that these women on the @lpga are nameless, faceless golfing robots who aren’t worthy of individual humanity.”
Wie, one of the few players Haney appears to have heard of, was similarly dismissive. “Too many of these girls, Korean or not, have worked countless hours and sacrificed so much to play in the US Open this week. There are so many amazing players in the field. Let’s celebrate them .... Not mock them,” she wrote.
By admitting that he knows next to nothing about one of the biggest tournaments in women’s golf, Haney also proved he has no business hosting a show on a prominent golf channel.
But what Haney said is not surprising – there are countless examples of how bigotry has reared its ugly head in the sport. From African Americans, Jewish people, and female players being barred from joining golf clubs; to women only being allowed to play at certain times at many courses; to black women having police called on them while playing a round; to Asians players being blamed for the LPGA not being more popular (it should be noted the tour has experienced exponential growth in its fanbase). Racism and sexism is embedded in golf, and it has taken decades to repair the image of the game and make it appear welcoming and open to all. And there is clearly still work to be done.
In this context, it is hard to shovel all the blame on Haney. The golf media mostly treats the LPGA like a blip on the radar, rarely telling the stories of the brilliant Asian players Haney was so quick to dismiss. So it was strange to see major golf publications calling out Haney when they are part of the problem – their social media channels and websites make you wonder if a professional women’s golf tour that has been around for 69 years exists at all. And the reality is, the publications that attacked Haney have more of a responsibility than Haney to promote women’s golf. How can we take the media seriously on this when they’ve done little to show that they value the LPGA?
There are steps that can be taken to improve matter. Perhaps SiriusXM could cancel Haney’s show and replace it with one that covers the LPGA exclusively. And maybe golf media as a whole will do better at highlighting the various stories of the diverse group of women who compete on the LPGA.
Until we wait in hope, make sure to tune in to the Women’s US Open where more than 20 countries will be represented in the second major of the year. And if you don’t know more than six players names, learn some more. There are plenty of great stories out there.