Current Questions on Digital Competence

The focus of the survey was the analysis of the digital competence of the citizens. The focus was on internet use and activity as well as the level of knowledge of the population regarding the handling of data and data protection. The survey was conducted by the opinion research institute forsa on behalf of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government. For the survey, a total of 1,505 randomly selected persons aged 14 and over in Germany were interviewed by telephone. The survey was conducted from 1 to 4 February 2021 as part of the population-representative multi-topic survey forsa.Omnitel.<br>Frequency of internet use (PC, smartphone, laptop, other devices); forms of internet activities (creating an account in a social network, ordering products online, using online banking, booking a hotel via the internet, making an appointment online to go to the authorities, using the internet as a source of information for current news, using apps in the areas of learning, fitness and health or finding a parking space, further education or courses on the internet); level of knowledge regarding the dangers of digitised offers (data security in the home office, detection of phishing emails, data use of social media, health/fitness or parking search apps); interest in information about the dangers of these digitised offers; frequency of seeking information about data handling and data protection on the internet; sources of information about data handling and data protection on the internet; interest in various information options about data handling and data protection.

Demography: sex; age; region; employment; school-leaving qualification; net household income; intention to vote in the Bundestag; voting behaviour in the Bundestag; federal state; city size.

Additionally coded: weighting factor.