How do Canadians view their use of time?

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When given the choice about how they would spend more time if opportunity allowed, Internet users differed in some ways from non-users (Table 10)¹. Moderate and heavy Internet users were less likely than non-users to say they wanted to spend more time outdoors, but were more likely to want to spend time on their crafts and hobbies. One feature of the Internet is that it enables users to search and retrieve information on specific hobbies, crafts, or other activities that might not be easily accessed elsewhere in their community. It is also sometimes possible to communicate with people with similar interests online, meaning that the Internet may, in some cases, nurture the existence of diverse “communities of interest” that are not defined by physical location (Sciadas 2006 (forthcoming)). Heavy users were also more likely than non-users to want to spend more time on their studies, but this was linked to the fact that a greater proportion of these users were students.

Although Internet users, particularly the heavy users, spent a substantial amount of time alone during the diary day, they did not differ significantly from non-users in their desire to spend more time with family and friends. In fact, this was the most popular choice for all three groups, as over one-quarter of individuals in each group singled out more time with family and friends as their number one priority.

Similarly, even though heavy users spent less time participating in sports than non-users, they were no more likely to want to spend more time on this activity, if they were given the choice, compared with non-users. Although slightly more heavy users appeared interested in spending more time reading and writing (a finding which would be consistent with results from the media section), the difference compared with non-users was not statistically significant. In short, aside from the few differences mentioned above, Internet users and non-users tended to share similar views about how they would like to spend additional time should they be given the choice.

Respondents to the survey were also asked to identify which activity they found most enjoyable during the diary day (if any). Not surprisingly, heavy Internet users stood out from both the non-users and moderate users for their preference for surfing the Web, using email and online chat groups. Web browsing was in fact the activity mentioned most often by heavy users (9.2%). Heavy users were also less likely than non-users to say that they found working, relaxing and sleeping to be the most enjoyable activities of the day. The only difference between moderate Internet users and non-users was that the moderate users were less likely to say that watching television was their most enjoyable activity (7.6%). Nonetheless, watching television remained the activity most often mentioned by moderate users. Interestingly, the proportions of non-users and heavy users who most enjoyed television were similar. Overall then, aside from their Internet use, and lack of enjoyment of working, relaxing and sleeping, Internet users did not differ substantially from non-users in terms of the activities they most enjoyed.

One distinguishing characteristic of heavy users however was the fact that they were more likely to have performed their most enjoyable activity alone. Nearly half (42.2%) of these heavy users did their most enjoyable activity in solitude while this was the case for fewer moderate users (33.2%) and non-users (30.2%) Clearly, the fact that activities undertaken by heavy users included Internet use accounted in large part for this difference, as spending time on the computer is almost always a solitary activity. It must be stressed however that while some individuals spending time on the Internet are alone in a physical sense, they may be interacting with other individuals online in various ways. Email was the most popular activity among Internet users in the survey, and online discussion groups, instant messaging and webcams, for example, offer other means of interaction. Certain behaviours might emphasize that it is important not to generalize internet use as necessarily ‘anti-social’ behaviour but rather differently social behaviour (Sciadas 2006 (forthcoming)).

Aside from the activity they most enjoyed, respondents were also asked to rate a number of other daily activities and chores, ranging from whether they liked the activity a great deal to whether they disliked the activity a great deal². Differences that emerged after adjustment for social and demographic factors included the fact that both moderate and heavy users found cleaning, doing repairs and maintenance, and having supper at home less enjoyable than non-Internet users. Heavy users also expressed less enjoyment for cooking. The one activity that they were likely to rank as more enjoyable than non-users was participating in clubs or social organizations, perhaps partly a reflection of their elevated interest in hobbies. Moderate Internet users also tended to enjoy attending movies, plays, sports and social events more than non-users, but expressed greater dislike for watching t.v., working, commuting, and driving children to various activities.

Table 10
Main activity respondent would like to spend more time doing

It is perhaps revealing that while both types of Internet users spent less time socializing or in contact with others, they expressed a greater level of enjoyment for these activities than non-users. Such a finding cautions against the interpretation that Internet users during the diary day were inherently anti-social in nature. It also raises the point that sometimes people particularly enjoy things that they don’t normally spend much time doing.

1. Respondents were asked, “On which main activity would you choose to spend more time if you could?”

2. Respondents were asked to respond using a 5-point scale, with ‘1’ meaning that they “dislike the activity a great deal” and ‘5’ meaning that they “enjoy the activity a great deal”. Respondents were not asked to rate activities which did not apply to them.