Use of internet in Cyprus on the rise, CUT survey says

More and more Cypriots use the internet now than in the past, and it has become part of the daily life of the Cypriots, according to a Cyprus-wide survey on the use of internet carried out by the Department of Communications and Internet Studies of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT).

The survey is part of the ''World Internet Project” programme and includes Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The results of the survey were presented Thursday by the head of the CUT’s Faculty of Applied Arts and Communication, Professor Nikos Demertzis.

According to the survey, 58% of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike use the internet. In 2000 only 14,7% of Greek Cypriots used the internet.

The survey, which includes the Turkish Cypriot community for the first time, was conducted between May and June 2010, through personal interviews. 1000 Greek Cypriots and 600 Turkish Cypriots participated in the survey.

In their vast majority, Cypriots consider the internet to be an important source of information, while news items is the most popular search in the internet.

Greek Cypriots use the internet more for purchases and travel information, while Turkish Cypriots use it for medical information and for visits more humoristic sites.

More Turkish Cypriots than Greek Cypriots believe that the internet is an important source of information as regards the Cyprus issue.

According to the survey, 26% of Greek Cypriots and 42% of Turkish Cypriots have said that through the internet they have increased their friendly relations with other people.

53% of Greek Cypriots and 37% of Turkish Cypriots are cautious as regards security through e-commerce.

In their vast majority, both communities consider the use of internet as positive. They also believe that the lack of internet access would have a negative impact on their lives.