Over 20 years ago, the first internet café opened its doors, and it would appear that the High Street is still home to such centres.
The younger generations would pop in for a hot chocolate and to do their homework, while their grandparents might be learning how to use emails. However, with so many UK homes now having access to the internet, why are there still so many of these cafes around?
Many cities and towns will have areas that are less affluent, and it is more than likely that a pay-to-use service is more economical for these households.
Typically, communities will find the cafes provide a variety of national foods and are of varying ethnicities. The internet café in this instance provides more than just surfing opportunities, but often job-searching and information-finding resources. With residents likely to be speaking in a variety of languages, they are able to gain help from peers in these communities.
Students are also high on the usage chart as often if they are at university or college, paying for the internet can be a costly and perhaps unreliable service, leading to them congregating in publicly provided internet areas.
Students can be renowned for leaving their work until the last moment, by accessing their information and writing essays in a less distracting vicinity, can prove to be a tempting option.
However, it is important to note that age is not necessarily a factor when asking ‘who still uses internet cafes?’. Those of us who perhaps were not of the digital age may not see the value in owning a PC but do see the value in the internet and the services that can be accessed via such.
Internet cafés have stood firm over the years and have evolved with the changing digital trends and supported those of us who feel the need to both surf the net but also scan the menu.