One in three Greeks aged 16 to 74 has never used a computer (PC) in their lives. According to data provided by the Information Society Observatory, 61.1% of the country's population uses a PC in Greece, while 34.4% state that they have never used a PC in their lives. The data for Internet users is similar. 57.6% of the country's population reports that they have used the Internet in the last three months of 2013, while 36.3% state that they have never browsed the Internet in their lives.
However, Greek users, as the data shows, make "heavy" use of the Internet. Approximately eight out of 10 users are in cyberspace on a daily basis. And according to the Observatory, as a rule, users are informed about products and services (76.7%), read newspapers and/or magazines (70.5%), send and receive e-mail (74.6%), make video calls (48.5%), while more than half (51.4%) upload content to social networks. Furthermore, three in 10 users use the Internet for education and training (29.4%), as well as for job searching (30.0%), and approximately two in 10 receive electronic banking services (21.7%).
A significant part of Internet users also use cyberspace for distance shopping services. Specifically, more than one in two Greek Internet users (52.3%) purchased electronic services and/or products in the last 12 months. Most of them (76.1%) cite the lowest prices of goods they find on the Internet as the strongest motivation for their online purchases. This is followed by “ease of shopping” (48.9%), “bigger range of products” (48%) and, finally, “less time” (40%). More than nine out of 10 users who shop online (93%) report that in the last quarter of 2013 they have spent less than 500 euros on online purchases, while 7% more than 500 euros.
In contrast to shopping, online transactions with the State are rather limited. Almost one in four citizens (16-74 years old) is informed about State matters from the Internet and only 15% carry out electronic transactions with a public service. However, everyone agrees, at a rate of 88% or more, that the Internet can help overcome bureaucracy.
Finally, according to the Observatory for the Information Society, the aforementioned indicators lag behind the EU averages. The survey was carried out in the 4th quarter of 2013 and was conducted using Eurostat methodology on a sample of 6,500 citizens aged 16-74.
Source: kathimerini.gr
