Kiwis concerned about AI, still want to live the #WFH dream
InternetNZ has released its latest Internet Insights survey which reveals that Kiwis, while generally positivity about the internet, have growing concerns across several areas, from data security to artificial intelligence.
Half of New Zealanders spend four or more hours daily on the internet for personal use, with this figure rising to 67% among those aged 18-29, according to the latest research by Verian, which surveyed a demographically representative of 1,001 people.
The most common online activities include social media browsing (47%), checking emails (43%), and streaming content (42%).
Facebook continues to dominate the social media landscape, with 58% of New Zealanders using it daily. Other popular platforms include Facebook Messenger (51%), Instagram (31%), and WhatsApp (27%).
In contrast, platforms like TikTok (14%), Snapchat (13%), and Reddit (7%) see significantly lower daily usage, with around two-thirds of New Zealanders reporting they've never used these platforms.
For the first time, the 2024 survey asked participants to break down their daily platform usage by hours. Facebook emerged as the platform where New Zealanders are most likely to spend more than an hour per day.
Women are more likely than men to use Facebook (64% vs 51%) and Instagram (39% vs 23%) daily. Younger New Zealanders (18-29) show higher usage of Instagram (55%), TikTok (38%), and Snapchat (28%).
Three-quarters of New Zealanders now have fibre internet connections at home, while 16% connect via wireless broadband.
Source InternetNZ
Concerns around AI
Only 25% of New Zealanders feel they know a fair amount or more about AI, with knowledge levels higher among men, those under 50, Asian people, and working professionals.
The survey reveals a significant caution toward AI, with 44% of respondents more concerned than excited about the technology, while just 10% feel more excited than concerned.
The top AI concerns include:
- Potential for malicious use (68%)
- Insufficient regulation (62%)
- Production of inaccurate information (62%)
- Unintended harmful consequences (60%)
Women, older New Zealanders, and those with disabilities express greater concern about AI's impacts than other demographic groups.
Remote working trends
The pandemic-accelerated shift to remote work continues to evolve in New Zealand. Among working respondents:
- 50% say their work could be done from home
- 25% work from home sometimes
- 13% work from home full-time
Half of those surveyed who are able to do the sort of work that can be done from home, said they’d like to do so more often.
Women are more likely than men to work from home full-time (17% vs 9%). Nearly half (49%) of those whose work can be done remotely would like to work from home more often, with the most common barrier being employer requirements to work a certain number of days in the office.
The survey also found that 46% of those who can work remotely would consider relocating within New Zealand if their current job allowed it, primarily motivated by seeking a more affordable lifestyle, more affordable housing, and a better quality of life.
Source: InternetNZ
The internet’s dar side
Despite 76% of New Zealanders believing the internet's positives outweigh its negatives, this sentiment has been declining over the past five years. The population is divided on the internet's impact on cultural beliefs and values, with roughly equal thirds viewing the impact as positive, neutral, or negative.
The top internet concerns include:
- Children accessing inappropriate content (71%)
- Personal data security (65%)
- Cyberbullying (64%)
- Online crime (64%)
Sixteen percent of New Zealanders report experiencing online harm or harassment, with younger people and those with disabilities most affected. Despite these concerns, only one-third of New Zealanders feel they know where to report concerning online content, with Netsafe and the Police being the most commonly cited reporting channels.
Most New Zealanders (79%) use passwords or PINs to protect their devices, but other security measures like multi-factor authentication (57%), regular software updates (55%), and unique passwords (42%) are less widely adopted.
As New Zealand's digital landscape continues to evolve, these insights highlight both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in ensuring a safe, inclusive, and productive online environment for all New Zealanders.
InternetNZ - what’s that?
Interestingly, and quite bravely, InternetNZ used the survey to ask recipients about their understanding of the organisation itself. Cue some head scratching and wild stabs in the dark at guessing what the non-profits key functions are. Understanding of Internet NZ is also dropping (10% awareness down from 16% in 2023), suggesting it has some work to do to reconnect with internet consumers.
Source: InternetNZ
