• by Ray Schultz , November 9, 2022

The average person spends eight hours per day online -- and 44.7% of consumers are increasing their internet use, according to the 2022 Internet Usage Report, a study by HighSpeedInternet.  

In addition, 75% of consumers always or frequently research purchases online, although they prefer in-person buying. 

Email teams should not assume that all they have to do is drive purchasers to a website. 

Among the items consumers would rather buy in person are clothing (48%, vs. 22% who prefer online), home goods (50%, versus 20% who like online) and groceries (67% vs. 13% who would rather buy online).  

And they prefer traditional physical tools like pen and paper for performing certain tasks: 

• Taking notes (30%, with 27% preferring online) 
• Reading books and articles (36%, versus 26% for online) 
• Making a grocery list (44%, versus 28% for online) 
• Looking at a restaurant menu (42%, compared to 26% for online).  

Meanwhile, consumers have been increasing these activities Since the start of the pandemic: 

• Using social media — 38%
• Shopping online — 47% 
• Getting food/groceries delivered — 31%
• Receiving virtual health care — 30% 
• Using the internet — 53% 
• Streaming movies, TV, etc. — 48%
• Streaming music, podcasts, etc. — 32%
• Using internet for hobbies — 35%
• Researching products/services — 34% 
• Leaving reviews — 16% 
• Using ride-share apps — 13% 
• Using smart home devices — 27%
• Using a smart phone — 48%
• Using a computer — 39%
• Video chatting — 44% 
• Online gaming — 26% 
• Attending virtual events — 25% 
• Online banking — 34%
• Staying home — 60%

HighSpeedInternet.com surveyed 1,000 consumers in September 2022.