Most web users are 'silent surfers'

The majority of web users don’t participate online, preferring just to passively read information presented to them, according to new research.

Although 92 per cent of European websites surveyed prompt visitors to participate, the majority (53 per cent) of European internet users are passive, silent surfers.

Just 23 per cent of web users in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Italy respond to prompted participation, such as polls and competitions, and a further 24 per cent are unprompted contributors that maintain blogs, websites or post in forums.

The study by JupiterResearch, also warns that the growth of consumer-generated content comes from a sizeable and vocal minority – mainly young and male - and this has a disproportionately wide influence.

Julian Smith, analysts at JupiterResearch, said he expected the influence of this vocal minority to grow:

“With the adoption of content creation tools democratising the publishing of information, consumers will increasingly be exposed to informal, peer produced content alongside formal, professionally created content.”

http://www.jupiterresearch.com