Americans’ Use of Mobile Technology and Home Broadband
Most U.S. adults today say they use the internet (95%), have a smartphone (90%) or subscribe to high-speed internet at home (80%). About four-in-ten report being online almost constantly.
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Some digital divides persist between rural, urban and suburban America
Rural adults are less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet or computer.
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Home broadband adoption, computer ownership vary by race, ethnicity in the U.S.
Black and Hispanic Americans remain less likely than White adults to say they own a traditional computer or have high-speed internet at home.
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Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021
Smartphone ownership and home broadband adoption are up slightly since 2019. And 30% of Americans say they at least sometimes experience problems connecting to the internet at home.
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34% of lower-income home broadband users have had trouble paying for their service amid COVID-19
Some 15% of all home broadband users in the U.S. say they have had trouble paying for their high-speed internet service during the pandemic.
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Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2019
Note: For the latest survey data on home broadband adoption and smartphone use, see “Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021” As the share of Americans who say they own a smartphone has increased dramatically over the past decade – from 35% in 2011 to 81% in 2019 – a new Pew Research Center survey finds that […]
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Internet, social media use and device ownership in U.S. have plateaued after years of growth
The use of digital technology has had a long stretch of rapid growth in the United States, but the share of Americans who go online, use social media or own key devices has remained stable the past two years.
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About a quarter of rural Americans say access to high-speed internet is a major problem
Fast, reliable internet service has become broadly essential. But 24% of rural U.S. adults say access to high-speed internet is a major problem in their community.
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Declining Majority of Online Adults Say the Internet Has Been Good for Society
At the same time, the contours of connectivity are shifting: One-in-five Americans (20%) are now ‘smartphone only’ internet users at home.
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Americans have mixed views on policies encouraging broadband adoption
As the FCC continues to address broadband infrastructure and access, Americans have mixed views on two policies designed to encourage broadband adoption.
