MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. The number of Russian Internet users has stopped growing within the population, remaining at last year’s 66% level, suggests an opinion poll by VTsIOM Russian Public Opinion Research Center taken on October 4-5.

Most active users are well-educated young people aged between 18 and 24 enjoying good financial standing, the poll found. Most Russian nationals using the Internet - 82% - searched web sources to reach latest news from home and abroad.

Survey returns from 1,600 people in 130 Russian locations said media resources such as music, films and books were popular among 80% of respondents.

This year's research contrasts with previous findings in which the number of Internet users was constantly increasing. In October 2010, their presence was assessed at 47% In 2011, this had grown to 53% and to 61% in 2012.

About 77% of survey participants said they used e-mail and 74% used social networking sites to communicate with friends. 70% said they used the Internet periodically for work and studies and 54% to play Internet games.

As many as 43% did Internet shopping and 20% admitted visiting erotic sites. Frequent use ratings said 46% of those questioned used the Internet every day.