Fewer young adults used the internet in 2011 than in the previous year, although significant increases in the number of older online browsers made up for the decline.

A somewhat surprising six per cent decline in the number of internet users aged 16-24 was overshadowed by a massive 62.6 per cent increase in internet usage among those aged 55-64.

In total, internet usage grew by just over 11 percentage points from one year to the next, with female browsers making up the lion’s share of the increase.

The figures, which cover the first three months of 2010 and 2011, mean that just over two-thirds of Malta’s population are now online.

This emerges from an ICT Usage survey conducted by the National Statistics Office.

The survey reveals a growing inclination for Maltese enterprises to minimise bureaucracy by turning to e-government services to obtain information and download forms.

Nearly all – 95 per cent – of enterprises said they made use of such services, an increase of 12 percentage points from 2010.

Most of the e-government sceptics surveyed – 38 per cent – said they didn’t use such services because they would still need to interact in person or resort to old-fashioned paper mail at some point down the line.

There was a six per cent increase in the number of businesses with a website. But those websites are seemingly rudimentary ones, with relatively fewer websites featuring price lists, ordering facilities or personalised content than in 2010.

Local online usage is closely linked with age. While 94.5 per cent of local 16-24 year olds are online, that figure declines as one rises up each age cohort.

Despite the massive increase in 55-64 users, less than half the population within that age bracket can be classified as an internet user.

Education levels also play an important role in determining internet usage.

While only 18 per cent of individuals with basic levels of education are internet users, that figure rises steadily up to the point where practically every tertiary-educated person (98.4 per cent) is online.

A closer look at the survey results confirms some gender stereotypes. Women are more inclined to spend their time online on social networks or reading up about health-related matters than men.

Men, on the other hand, enjoy downloading software or using online banking more than their female counterparts.