Web 2.0 Small but Still Weak on Security

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Wow, lots of talk about the Pew report on Web 2.0. There's nothing like a report on omnivores to get them going. (Omnivores, according to Pew, are those who "participate in cyberspace and express themselves online and do a range of Web 2.0 activities such as blogging or managing their own Web pages.").

The gist of the report is that there is no dominate type of user of information and communications technologies and close to half the population is inexperienced, indifferent, light users or completely off the network.

If so many of the people using these technologies are engaged enough to make it a significant part of their lives, why don't they seem to care about security?

Technology matters to these people yet 80% of PCs are infected with, on average, 24 pieces of spyware. (See more on security statistics at an earlier post.) What gives? The big disconnect that is the hot topic in the blogosphere isn't that so many people don't use Web 2.0, its that so many that do don't know how to use it safely.

Here is a break down from the report.

Elite Tech Users (31% of American adults)

Omnivores 8% --They have the most information gadgets and services, which they use voraciously to participate in cyberspace and express themselves online and do a range of Web 2.0 activities such as blogging or managing their own Web pages.

Connectors 7% -- Between featured-packed cell phones and frequent online use, they connect to people and manage digital content using ICTs - all with high levels of satisfaction about how ICTs let them work with community groups and pursue hobbies.

Lackluster Veterans 8% -- They are frequent users of the internet and less avid about cell phones. They are not thrilled with ICT-enabled connectivity.

Productivity Enhancers 8% -- They have strongly positive views about how technology lets them keep up with others, do their jobs, and learn new things.

Middle-of-the-road Tech Users (20%)

Mobile Centrics 10% --They fully embrace the functionality of their cell phones. They use the internet, but not often, and like how ICTs connect them to others.

Connected But Hassled 10% -- They have invested in a lot of technology, but they find the connectivity intrusive and information something of a burden.

Few Tech Assets (49%)

Inexperienced Experimenters 8% -- They occasionally take advantage of interactivity, but if they had more experience, they might do more with ICTs.

Light But Satisfied 15% -- They have some technology, but it does not play a central role in their daily lives. They are satisfied with what ICTs do for them.

Indifferents 11% -- Despite having either cell phones or online access, these users use ICTs only intermittently and find connectivity annoying.

Off the Network 15% -- Those with neither cell phones nor internet connectivity tend to be older adults who are content with old media.