More and more heavy users and smartphone users in Switzerland

In 2000, almost 40 percent of the Swiss population surfed the web; today, 90 percent are regularly online. Eight out of ten even use the Internet daily or several times a day. At the turn of the millennium, only 14 percent were heavy users. Among digital natives (14- to 29-year-olds), the Internet is used almost without exception - only 0.3 percent in this age group live offline. 17 years ago, this proportion was relatively high at 27 percent. Most offliners are still to be found among senior citizens (70+): 47 percent today, compared with almost all of them in 2000 at 96 percent.

Smartphone - the constant companion

The high intensity of use presupposes that the Internet can be used regardless of location. Seven out of ten Swiss regularly use a smartphone for this purpose. The number of smartphone users has tripled since 2010. Back then, there were 1.4 million, but today there are 4.6 million. Even though the majority surf with their cell phones primarily via WLAN, 23 percent say they primarily use the mobile network (3G, 4G, etc.). 28 percent surf via WLAN and the mobile network in roughly equal measure.

More online shoppers, social media users and online gamers

As was the case five years ago, the most popular activities are obtaining information via search engines, e-mail and daily news. There has been a sharp increase in the number of online shoppers: While 43 percent said they visited online stores in 2012, this figure has now risen to 74 percent. Social media are also being used more frequently today: 63 percent regularly spend time on Facebook, Instagram and the like - in 2012, this figure was only 42 percent. In addition, online games are becoming increasingly popular: the number of users has grown from 1.1 million to 2 million within five years.