17 May 2010 | Author: J. Morton Search Copywriter

Privacy concerns create web savvy users

Internet users, at least in the United Kingdom, have become more guarded in their interactions in recent years, especially on social networking like sites Facebook.

In a survey of 1,824 internet users above the age of 16 conducted by Ofcom, the regulatory body found that most users have become less likely to reveal personal information in online forums and social networking sites. Conducted twice each year, the survey showed remarkable changes from just two years ago in 2007.

About 80 per cent of those polled in the survey said they restricted the access of their social networking profiles so that they could only be seen by family and friends, whilst it 2007 this figure stood at just under half. These changes could be due to the phenomenon's increasing popularity, but recent media attention over Facebook's privacy policies have also drawn significant attention to how much Britons are revealing online.

Average totals of people using social networking sites in England, Scotland and Wales all hover around 45 per cent, with Northern Irish users placed at 31 per cent.

Scottish internet users appear to be the most accepting of offering personal information, with the survey finding that half would be "happy" to enter their home address online, and over 40 per cent willing to divulge credit card details upon request.

This contrasts with only 23 per cent of Welsh and Northern Irish respondents willing to give out their home addresses.

The trend that's seeing UK users becoming more wary of internet security could be on the rise thanks to high profile criticism of social media giant Facebook. The social networking site, which ever nears the half-billion user mark, has been slammed by politicians in the US and the EU, as well as privacy advocate groups worldwide, including the American Civil Liberties Union and EU data protection officials.

The Ofcom report concluded that Scots use the internet for about 10.6 hours a week, followed by the English at 8.3 hours, Welsh at 6.8 hours and adults in Northern Ireland spend only 6.5 hours online.