For how long have people been using the internet?

People began to commonly use the internet with the introduction of Windows 95 in 1995.

There was some demand for internet access in 1993 and 1994, which lead to the introduction of Windows 95. But Windows 3.11 was able to connect to the Internet via the "Winsock" programmes. These early programs were very difficult to use, and not for those who were unadventurous. Windows 95 was an operating system that was built with the internet in mind, contradicting earlier versions of Windows that were not friendly with the internet.

Electronic mail had also been in common use for some time before 1995 via services, such as CompuServe.