---
"title": "Pay for Online Content"
"description": "Nearly two thirds of internet users have paid to download or access some kind of online content, ranging from music to games to news articles."
"date": "2011-01-06"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Pew Research Center"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2011/01/06/pay-for-online-content/"
"categories":
  - "Music"
---

# Pay for Online Content

While Americans surely still enjoy the immense amount of free material available via the internet, fully 65% of online adults have also dipped into their own pocket to pay to download or access content on the internet. Among the online pursuits that come at a cost, digital music and computer software prove to be the most popular — a third of internet users have paid to access or download each of these items. Other popular online content that proves worthy of a price includes cell phone apps (21% of internet users have paid for these), digital games (19%) and digital news material (18%). Among adults who have paid for online content, nearly half (46%) have purchased only one or two types of content covered in the survey. Some 16% have purchased six or more types of content. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/1842/internet-users-pay-download-access-online-content)