Assessment 2

1. Unit 2: The Evolution Of Internet
(How Consumers Use Internet And Its Impact On Our Lives)
Figure 1: Shows a group of young people all on their smartphones (GadgetCove, 2019)

2. Introduction
Figure 2: This image illustrates how the internet has evolved since it was first invented. The first ever website was only
published in 1991 and now 32 years later, there are over a billion websites that exist on the internet (Esferize, 2023).

3. Access To The Internet
Figure 3: This graph shows how the number of people using the internet has increased steadily every
year. Looking at the trend, it is safe to assume that the total number will continue to rise as population
increases (Statista, 2023).

4. Figure 4: This data from 2021 shows the number of smartphone users in different countries compared to their population. Even as little
as 10 years ago, it was difficult to imagine browsing the Internet on any device other than a computer or a laptop. Nowadays, mobile is
fast becoming the most popular way to access the web (MekkoGraphics, 2021).

5. Digital Devices Used By Audiences
Smartphones Laptops Smart TV
Figure 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the different ways people are able to access the internet as technology has continued to evolve. A study from March 2021 showed
that in the United Kingdom, the UK digital population accounted for approximately 40 million unique users on smartphones and 30.4 million laptop users
(USwitch, 2023). Nowadays, most televisions are smart tvs which means people have another way to easily browse the internet and watch their favourite shows
from apps such as Netflix.

6. How Customers Search For Information
Figure 8 shows the stats of the most common ways
people search for information online. Google
clearly dominates the search engine department
with over 90.7% of internet users accessing it as of
June 2023.
Google is essential in the daily lives of billions of
people around the world, with leading positions in
online search, maps, and other services
(VisualCapatalist, 2023).

7. What Consumers Buy Online
Figures 9 and 10 show consumers buy a wide variety of products online, but some of the most popular categories for online
purchases include clothing, electronics, footwear, furniture, toys etc. The top reasons for shopping online include free shipping,
lower prices, convenience, price comparison, and more product options (Tidio, 2023).

8. Figure 11 is a representation of how the number of people shopping online has increased over the years while also showing the
projected numbers for the next two years.The number of online shoppers has been growing over the past few years. In 2023, there
are 80 million more digital buyers than there were in 2022—a 3.1% year-over-year increase (Oberlo, 2023).

9. Online Video Consumption
Figure 12 is an illustration of how Online video
consumption has undergone significant changes over
the years. According to a report by Statista, the number
of digital video viewers worldwide is projected to reach
2.72 billion by 2023, up from 2.1 billion in 2019. This
represents a substantial increase in online video
consumption over the years.
Furthermore, the growth of platforms like YouTube,
Netflix, and other streaming services has contributed to
the surge in online video viewing.
With the widespread availability of high-speed internet
and the increasing use of mobile devices, people have
more access to online videos than ever before
(Statista, 2023).

10. Consumer Trends
The use of technology by consumers has undergone significant changes over the
past 3-5 years. Some of the key trends include:
1. Increased Use of Smartphones and Mobile Shopping: The use of
smartphones for online activities, including shopping, has seen a
significant rise. This has been driven by the convenience and
accessibility offered by mobile devices.
2. Rise of Social Media and Social Commerce: Social media platforms
have become increasingly important for product discovery and shopping.
Many consumers now make purchases directly through social media
platforms, blurring the lines between social interaction and e-commerce.
3. Transformative Technology: Advancements in technology, such as
artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality, have
transformed the online shopping experience. These technologies have
enabled more personalized and immersive shopping experiences for
consumers (Regan, 2022).

11. Another trend that has been on a massive rise in recent years is people
ordering food online using delivery services such as UberEats. Figure 14
shows Uber’s exponential growth in revenue from 2019-2022.
There are several reasons why many people prefer to order food online
nowadays. Some of the key advantages of online food ordering for
consumers include:
- Convenience and Accessibility: Online food ordering offers unmatched
convenience, allowing customers to place orders from any location and avoid
the need to travel for meal collection (DeGroat, 2023).
- Vast Food Choices: Food delivery apps provide a wide array of food
choices that may not be available in the menu of a single restaurant, giving
customers access to a diverse range of cuisines and dishes (AsianAge,
2022).

12. Summary
The way consumers use the internet has changed vastly in the last 10 years and that is mainly due to the advancement in technology. Almost everyone today owns a
smartphone, tablet or a laptop and as there are so many companies producing these products, they can be often found at affordable prices.This increase in ownerships of
electronic devices has made it easier than ever for consumers to access and browse the internet.
Technology has had a profound impact on consumer behavior in recent years. In particular, it has significantly changed the way consumers shop. Some examples of how
technology has influenced consumer shopping behavior include:
1. 24/7 Access to Customer Service: Consumers now expect round-the-clock access to customer service, and technology has made this possible. The availability of
Wifi in private homes, worksites, and public places has enabled consumers to shop from anywhere at any time, leading to the expectation of continuous assistance
(Journey, 2018).
2. Greater Choice and Customization: The internet has allowed people to shop from anywhere in the world and have their purchases delivered to their doorstep, leading
to increased global competition and forcing companies to focus on customer loyalty and personalization (OfficeLive,2023)
3. Convenience and Accessibility: Online shopping has provided unmatched convenience, allowing customers to browse and purchase products from any location,
leading to a more seamless and time-saving shopping experience (TheGuardian, 2014).
Technology will never stop improving and while it’s impossible to say how technology will improve in the coming years, from looking at past trends, it is safe to assume that
new technology will keep being invented to make internet experience for users even easier as time goes by.

13. Reference List
1) Brown, H. (2019) Latest news, Why do people use their smartphones everyday? | Gadget Cover. Available at:
https://www.gadget-cover.com/blog/what-are-the-most-popular-reasons-why-people-use-their-smartphones-every-day (Accessed: 04 December 2023).
2) Río, C.S. del (2022) How has the internet evolved? discover the most important milestones, Esferize. Available at: https://www.esferize.com/en/how-has-internet-evolved/
(Accessed: 04 December 2023).
3) Brown, H. (2023) Latest news, Why do people use their smartphones everyday? | Gadget Cover. Available at:
https://www.gadget-cover.com/blog/what-are-the-most-popular-reasons-why-people-use-their-smartphones-every-day (Accessed: 04 December 2023).
4) Goldstein, D. (2021) Smartphone penetration, Mekko Graphics. Available at: https://www.mekkographics.com/smartphone-penetration/ (Accessed: 04 December 2023).
5) Delgado, C. (2023) What is ‘Digital dementia’, and is it a harmful impact of technology?, Discover Magazine. Available at:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/technology-overuse-and-the-fear-of-digital-dementia-what-you-need-to-know (Accessed: 04 December 2023).
6) Team, B.C.E. (2021) Do’s and don’ts: Using a laptop computer: Entergy Newsroom, Do’s and Don’ts: Using a Laptop Computer | Entergy Newsroom. Available at:
https://www.entergynewsroom.com/article/dos-donts-using-laptop-computer/ (Accessed: 04 December 2023).
7) Baker, N. (2023) UK mobile phone statistics 2023 - mobiles facts and stats report, Uswitch. Available at:
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/studies/mobile-statistics/#:~:text=A%20breakdown%20of%20the%20UK’s,and%2030.4%20million%20desktop%20users. (Accessed: 04
December 2023).
8) Marcus Lu (2023) Visualizing Google’s Search Engine Market Share, Visual Capitalist. Available at:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-googles-search-engine-market-share/ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
9) Gaubys, J. (2023) Why do people shop online? [updated Nov 2023], Oberlo. Available at: https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/why-do-people-shop-online (Accessed: 05 December
2023).
10) Fokina, M. (2023) Online shopping statistics: Ecommerce trends for 2023, Tidio. Available at: https://www.tidio.com/blog/online-shopping-statistics/ (Accessed: 05 December
2023).
11) Gaubys, J. (2023a) How many people shop online in 2023? [updated Feb 2023], Oberlo. Available at: https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-shop-online
(Accessed: 05 December 2023).
12) Stoll, J. (2023) Netflix: Number of subscribers worldwide 2023, Statista. Available at:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/250934/quarterly-number-of-netflix-streaming-subscribers-worldwide/ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
13) Renner, B. (2022) Study reveals which type of people are most likely to use -- or not use -- facebook, Study Finds. Available at:
https://studyfinds.org/study-reveals-which-type-of-people-are-most-likely-to-use-or-not-use-facebook/ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
14) Regan, B. (2023) 16 fascinating online shopping statistics: BigCommerce, The BigCommerce Blog. Available at: https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/online-shopping-statistics/
(Accessed: 05 December 2023).
15) Nahun, C. (2014) Six Ways Technology is changing The way we shop, The Guardian. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/media-network-blog/2014/jun/25/six-ways-technology-changing-shopping (Accessed: 05 December 2023).

14. Notes For Presentation
- The internet has evolved since it was first invented. The first ever website was only published in 1991 and now 32 years later, there are over a billion websites.
- Even as little as 10 years ago, it was difficult to imagine browsing the Internet on any device other than a computer or a laptop. Nowadays, mobile is fast becoming the most popular way to
access the web.
- The UK digital population accounted for approximately 40 million unique users on smartphones and 30.4 million laptop users. Nowadays, most televisions are smart tvs which means people
have another way to easily browse the internet and watch their favourite shows from apps such as Netflix.
- Google clearly dominates the search engine department with over 90.7% of internet users accessing it as of June 2023.
- Some of the most popular categories for online purchases include clothing, electronics, footwear, furniture, toys etc. The top reasons for shopping online include free shipping, lower prices,
convenience, price comparison.
- The number of online shoppers has been growing over the past few years. In 2023, there are 80 million more digital buyers than there were in 2022.
- The use of technology by consumers has undergone significant changes over the past 3-5 years. Increased Use of Smartphones and Mobile Shopping. Rise of social media.
- Not only online shopping, but people are also now ordering food and groceries online as it's much easier than physically going to a store.