The most common use of the internet among the Maltese is to read newspapers and magazine.

In fact, 27 per cent of internet users go online to view newspapers and magazines, according to the latest Eurostat survey. Online banking was the second most popular performed web activity (25 per cent), followed by surfing for health information on injury, disease or nutrition (23 per cent).

Unlike Malta, the most common use of internet in the EU 27 is to access travel and accommodation services (33 per cent) followed by online banking (30 per cent).

In Malta, just two per cent said they used the internet to maintain or create their own weblogs or blogs, according to the survey, conducted among member states in the first quarter of this year. It showed that internet in residences was becoming a necessity in Malta and 59 per cent of households have some form of internet connection. The number of Maltese installing internet at home in just one year increased by five per cent.

The most common reason for not having internet at home among the remaining 40 per cent was lack of skills (33 per cent), followed by 15 per cent who said they did not want the service. Just four per cent blamed high costs for not having home access and another three per cent said they had alternative access, particularly at work.

On an EU level, Eurostat said that 60 per cent of households had access to the internet in the first quarter of the year.

The Netherlands (86 per cent) was the most internet-friendly country, followed by Sweden (84 per cent), Denmark (82 per cent) and Luxembourg (80 per cent).

The lowest levels were registered in Bulgaria (25 per cent), Romania (30 per cent) and Greece (31 per cent).