The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) published [PDF, 2.88 MB] the findings from its Phase 2 Global Consumer Research Survey. The key findings are listed below.
Conducted by Nielsen, the study measured current consumer attitudes toward the gTLD landscape and domain name system (DNS), as well as changes in consumer attitudes from the first wave study in 2015. Internet users were asked about aspects of consumer awareness, consumer choice, experience and trust.
Key findings:
New generic top-level domains (gTLDs) showed a modest increase in awareness around the globe
- More than half of respondents (52 percent) were aware of at least one new gTLD.
- Awareness has particularly increased in North America (29 percent in 2015 vs. 38 percent in 2016), Asia Pacific (53 percent vs. 58 percent) and Europe (33 percent vs. 45 percent).
- Reported visits to new gTLDs decreased (65 percent vs. 50 percent).
Awareness and trustworthiness remain high for well-known legacy TLDs
- Of a subset of legacy TLDs, consumers were most aware of .COM (95 percent), .NET (88 percent) and .ORG (83 percent).
- These TLDs rated highly (91 percent) as trustworthy destinations on the Internet.
- ccTLDs are considered trustworthy by most consumers (95 percent) in regions where they are commonly used.
Consumers tie registration restrictions to trust
- More than 70 percent of respondents favored some level of registration restrictions on both legacy and new gTLDs, an increase from 2015.
- In thinking about new gTLDs, consumers expect the content of a website to closely match the implied meaning of the domain name at the second-level when considered in concert with the gTLD in which the name is registered.
Additional highlights include:
- Overall, trust of the domain name industry relative to other technology-related industries has improved.
- When asked to describe the purpose of gTLDs, respondents focused on the idea of structure to the Internet’s content. When asked what new gTLDs will provide, respondents said they will improve this structure, improve credibility and meet the demand for more domain names.
- Globally, teens’ responses are similar to adults, though they show slightly more familiarity with new gTLDs, and use apps and wikis more than they rely on gTLDs for navigating online content.
- Consumer concern about being a victim of online abusive behavior or cybercrime is relatively stable with 2015 numbers, though consumers do report being less comfortable providing personal information on a site using a new gTLD than a legacy gTLD or ccTLD.