Chat rooms risky: Survey
CANUCKS ARE HUNG UP OVER NET CONNECTIONS
By CP
Mon, August 9, 2004
FOUR OUT of five Canadians believe chat rooms and online dating are dangerous because they don't know who they are dealing with, a poll suggests. As well, 69% of respondents indicated they reject using the Internet as a way to meet people and 47% would completely rule out using the Internet to meet new friends.
Women (38%) are less likely to use the Internet to meet new people, compared with men (56%).
The Leger Marketing survey indicated 83% of women respondents did not trust chat rooms compared with 77% of men.
Canadians between 55 and 64 years old (90%), employees in sales, services or office workers (86%) and homemakers (90%) are among the most likely to distrust these web sites.
DISTRUST CHAT ROOMS
The regional breakdown for those who distrust chat rooms and online dating was Atlantic provinces 86%; Quebec 83%; Ontario, the Prairies and Alberta, all with 80%; and British Columbia, 74%.
Respondents replied to the question: "Chat rooms and online dating are dangerous, you don't know with whom you are dealing?"
Close to two out of three -- 65% -- of Canadians said they think the Internet makes it easier to meet people, although 26% disagreed and 9% did not express an opinion.
EASIER TO MEET PEOPLE
Seventy-five per cent of respondents 25 to 34 years old and manual workers (73%) said the Internet makes it easier to meet people.
The Atlantic provinces had the highest percentage of people who said the Internet helps people to meet (70%); followed by the Prairies, 68; Alberta, 67; Quebec, 66; Ontario, 64; and British Columbia 63.
The survey indicated that almost three-quarters of respondents (71%) used the Internet for personal or professional reasons in June, with Ontarians logging on the most (75%).
They were followed by British Columbians at 73%; Albertans (72%); the Atlantic provinces (70%) and the Prairies (66). Quebec had the lowest number of surfers at 63%.
The telephone survey of 1,500 Canadians, conducted between July 6 and July 11, is considered accurate within 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.