You use the internet when you have to but you’d rather not if you could help it. Sometimes you yearn for the days when communication was mostly conducted by paper and pen.
You use the internet when you have to but you’d rather not if you could help it. Sometimes you yearn for the days when communication was mostly conducted by paper and pen.
Timid Technophobes are far less affected by technology changes than the other groups. And despite the rise of the internet, they still represent almost a quarter of Britons (23%).
Armed with limited internet skills, they'll only use it when they really need to. Many of them will be adept enough to send and receive emails, but they still prefer to use pen and paper.
They might use mobile phones, but just to make calls from. For emails they'd rather use a full sized keyboard and for photos they'll use a proper camera.
They believe the internet is getting out of control. The abundance of information means they don't know what to trust and they think it needs regulating.
They are unimpressed by blogging, tweeting or social networking, regarding it as something for people with too much time on their hands.
Doris, 69, retired from Dorset
We bought a household computer a couple of years ago. I use it primarily to stay in touch with my three grown-up children.
My husband taught me how to use the internet - until recently he used it for work. The main use I have for it is email although in truth I'm a letter person. I check my email to send notes to the kids and visit the odd news site like the BBC.
My kids laugh at me when I worry about the safety of the internet. I read so many stories about credit card details being stolen, it's scary. I would never shop online and don't like to think of my children doing it. I don't understand Facebook and things. I mean, anyone could see your photos and details.
The kids get frustrated and say our internet speed is painfully slow. I don't notice - to be honest it gives me time to catch up! I've no idea if we have broadband or non-broadband - as long as I can log on for emails that suits me fine.