[1st-mile-nm] Pew Report: Digital Differences

[Richard Lowenberg]

For those of you interested in the evolving story and studies of
digital divides, disparities and demographic aspects thereof,
the Pew Internet & American Life Project has issued its latest report.
Of note here is the increased use/adoption of cell phones by Hispanics.
RL
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DIGITAL DIFFERENCES

Pew Internet & American Life Project
Authors: Kathryn Zickuhr, Aaron Smith

Differences in internet access still exist among different demographic 
groups, especially when it comes to access to high-speed broadband at 
home. Among the main findings about the state of digital access:

One in five American adults does not use the internet. Senior citizens, 
those who prefer to take our interviews in Spanish rather than English, 
adults with less than a high school education, and those living in 
households earning less than $30,000 per year are the least likely 
adults to have internet access.

Among adults who do not use the internet, almost half have told us that 
the main reason they don’t go online is because they don’t think the 
internet is relevant to them. Most have never used the internet before, 
and don’t have anyone in their household who does. About one in five say 
that they do know enough about technology to start using the internet on 
their own, and only one in ten told us that they were interested in 
using the internet or email in the future.

The 27% of adults living with disability in the U.S. today are 
significantly less likely than adults without a disability to go online 
(54% vs. 81%). Furthermore, 2% of adults have a disability or illness 
that makes it more difficult or impossible for them to use the internet 
at all.

Though overall internet adoption rates have leveled off, adults who are 
already online are doing more. And even for many of the “core” internet 
activities we studied, significant differences in use remain, generally 
related to age, household income, and educational attainment.

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Digital-differences/Overview.aspx



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Richard Lowenberg
1st-Mile Institute
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110  / 505-603-5200
www.1st-mile.com   rl at 1st-mile.com
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