Australians believe good things about the Internet

The political netizen

Only 15 per cent of Internet users in the respondent base believe political involvement is a test of a good citizen, yet Internet users showed a higher level of online political activity. More than half of the Internet-using respondents allowed political or environmental factors to dictate their purchase decisions; 30 per cent used the Internet to contact a politician or local government official; 45 per cent signed a petition; and 27 per cent visited political party or candidate Websites.

It’s only in more direct political activities – membership of a party (4 per cent), circulating political messages (21 per cent) or direct political participation over the Internet (12 per cent) that the numbers fall off.

The political involvement, rather than how Internet users describe themselves, is the real nugget in the study. The examination of their activity, rather than their opinions, is what reveals Australia’s internet population to be active and engaged.