Alongside the shocking statistic that one in five of all workers are now employed by the government, the Office for National Statistics has some figures out today suggesting the British really are now online. Over half of households now have an internet connection, and the majority have bought things online.

The really interesting thing is how mamy people are establishing their own space on the web. Of those online, 23 per cent posted a message in a chat room or newsgroup, 17 per cent had used peer to peer file sharing, such as exchanging music and films and 13 per cent had created a web page. The conclusion? Blogging and podcasating - using the web to create new, interactive media, that is - are now far more in the mainstream than most commentators, and certainly most companies, yet realise.