OxIS 2019: The Rise of Mobile Internet Use in Britain

Abstract

Based on the 2019 Oxford Internet Surveys (OxIS), this working paper provides detail on the rise of mobile devices and the mobile Internet and how they are used, identifying several modes of use defined by the combination of mobile devices, computers and the Internet. The analysis then looks in detail at who uses and does not use mobile Internet alone or in conjunction with other devices, arguing that this could make a substantial difference the role mobile technology will play in society. In the course of this discussion, the paper provides evidence to address several key questions: Are mobile Internet services substituting or complementing other forms of Internet access? Is mobile changing what people do online? Has the household remained the major place from which people access the Internet?

Keywords: mobile, internet, mobile-only, adoption, use