If you're like most people out there you probably think that the Internet, in its apparent prominence, is taking over the world, that is, if it hasn't already. I mean, who writes letters anymore now that e-mail is the way of the world; who uses the yellow pages when search engines give a whole new meaning to 'let your fingers do the walking'; and who leaves the house when the Internet literally puts the world at your fingertips, right? WRONG!!! Despite the apparent stranglehold the Internet has on the world's everyday functioning, here is a compilation of some conclusions that are sure to shock you.

Internet Stats reveal that a staggering 93.9 % of the world's population is NOT affiliated with the Internet in any way shape or form!!!!! This is surely NOT what the Internet Media machine would have you believe.

Take a closer look at the statistics and things get even more interesting. Of the 374.9 million or 6.1% of the world's population that have Internet access, one third are not even online, browsing, if you may. It is 4.1% of the world's population that are actually using the Internet - pretty shocking I know.

Let's break it down even further. As the Internet can serve many purposes, people obviously use it for various reasons and are at different levels of proficiency.

The first group of people, constituting 3.84% of the world's population, is those mainly concerned with the promotion and communication side of the Internet. These people use the Net primarily for e-mailing, web browsing, discussion, newsgroups and online chat; they may even have their own email E-zine.

The next level up, those constituting 5.84% of the world's population, are people that utilize services such as online shopping; can just use a website wizard; and put up information.

This leads us to the most advanced Internet users, constituting a minute 0.16% of the world's population. This group comprises those who design their own websites; use web host services; to those who have their own links directories; right through to intranet owners and IP enterprise and server builders. The tops of the class are those you might refer to as the Internet Super-Advanced, those that have reached guru status, a miniscule percentage of the world population.

Of course there is another group that intermingles with the Net Advanced and the 'gurus', commonly referred to as 'Anti- Spammers'. A now-revealed, tiny, breakaway faction of net users, holding the general Net-Advanced to ransom, with oppressive beliefs that ALL unsolicited mail is 'Spam', there is always the few.

These figures are in no way intended to paint a bleak picture of the Internet - on the contrary, the Internet is anything but bleak, why else would it be attracting 50, 000 new users a day. Though these stats will dispel the general notion that the Internet is well on its way to conquering the world, they will show to the marketing advanced, that, the Net is far from accomplished, and still very rapidly growing. This growth is sure to see it infiltrate even the most remote places on Earth.

So for those who think we are witnessing the Internet revolution, hold on to your seats - you ain't seen nothing yet!

George Edwards
M6.net - http://www.m6.net