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Proportion of UK adults accessing news online doubles in six years to 55 per cent

By Gavriel Hollander

The proportion of adults in the UK accessing news online has more than doubled over the last six years.

New figures from the Office of National Statistics(full report), released today, show that 55 per cent of adults use the internet to read news or download newspapers or magazines.

Six years ago, only 20 per cent read newspapers or magazine online, while last year the figure was 47 per cent.

Men are more likely to access news online, with 60 per cent having done so in the last year compared to 49 per cent of women.

The 25 to 34-year-old age group is also the most likely consume news through computers, smartphones or tablets, with 72 per cent saying they had done so.

The number of Britons who use the internet every day in 2013 is estimated at 36m, up by 2.5m on the same time a year ago.

The data is based on a monthly sample of 1,800 households who are surveyed by the ONS.

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Another report, published this morning based on research by City University, suggested that, although many more people are now going online to read news, the vast majority of minutes spent engaging with newspapers was still spent on the print product rather than digitally.

Adding up total reader-minutes for 12 leading UK newspapers, researchers found that more than 90 per cent were spent reading print editions.

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