Results of the Impact of COVID-19 on ICT usage by Households, January and March 2020, were published on 15th May and reports on the key features of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected ICT usage by households and individuals in the State. This analysis provided early indicators of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on households’ and individuals' use of the internet during this period, including internet activities, internet purchases, use of e-Government and online learning. This release focusses on how certain internet activities have affected virtual life in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This release compares data collected during the three weeks following initial Government measures put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic (three weeks commencing 16th March) with a similar period in January (three weeks commencing 20th January). Some main results include:

• Over three quarters (76%) of internet users reported Reading or downloading online news in March, compared to 74% surveyed in January.

• Social networking increased in March - 68% compared to 66% in January.

• Uploading self-created content (such as photos, music, videos, text to any website to be shared) saw an increase of seven percentage points to 38% of internet users, compared to 31% in January.

• Seven in every ten (70%) internet users Watched YouTube type content, an increase of five percentage points on the corresponding survey period in January.

• Watching video on demand (from commercial services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO GO, Amazon Prime) was reported by 57% of internet users, compared to 55% in January.

• Watching internet streamed TV live or catch up (from TV broadcasters) was carried out by 55% of internet users, compared to 54% in January. 

• Three in every ten (30%) internet users reported Playing or downloading games in March, an increase of seven percentage points on the corresponding survey period in January.