{"id":95321,"date":"2011-08-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-08-02T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2011\/08\/02\/internet-use-in-the-u-s\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:13:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:13:34","slug":"internet-use-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2011\/08\/02\/internet-use-in-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet Use in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"
Internet Access by Age, Health Status<\/h3>\n\n
Let\u2019s map this mountain, starting with some bedrock data. <\/p>\n\n
This is the known world of internet use in the U.S. which the Pew Research Center has been tracking for over 10 years. Think of us as your GPS for navigating the online world.<\/p>\n\n
In order to get an accurate picture of a changing population we use national RDD telephone surveys, conducted in both English & Spanish and with a mixed sample of both landline and cell phones. <\/p>\n\n
In 1995 only about 1 in 10 American adults had access to the internet. In 2000, it was up to nearly half of adults. Now, about 75% of adults and 95% teenagers in the U.S. have internet access.<\/p>\n\n
One thing to keep in mind is the fact that adults living with chronic disease are significantly less likely than healthy adults to have access to the internet. <\/p>\n\n
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62% of adults living with one or more chronic disease go online. <\/li>\n
81% of adults reporting no chronic diseases go online.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
That\u2019s one of the roadblocks to keep in mind. There are still pockets of people who remain offline, but many of them have what we call second-degree internet access. Their loved ones are online. Caregivers represent an opportunity for the engagement of our elders and other people who remain offline.<\/p>\n\n
Wireless Access<\/h3>\n\n
Six in ten U.S. adults go online wirelessly, with a laptop, mobile device or tablet. A whopping 84% of 18-29 year-olds go online wirelessly.<\/p>\n\n
Three key points about the wireless opportunity:<\/p>\n\n
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Local: Nearly half of all American adults (47%) report that they get at least some local news and information on their cellphone or tablet computer. This is an example of how Pew Internet\u2019s broad portfolio of research can benefit many fields. We are tracking the internet\u2019s impact on politics, news, gaming, education, entertainment. The habits and behaviors that people form in those sectors will likely port over to health when someone gets sick \u2013 or is caring for a loved one.<\/li>\n
Health: wireless users are voracious information consumers, including some interesting trends within health \u2013 48% of wireless users look online for information about doctors or other health professionals, compared with 31% of internet users who do not have wireless access, for example. The always-on, always-with-you internet becomes a default information source.<\/li>\n
Devices: 83% of American adults have a cell phone. Small screens outnumber big screens in the U.S. Ask yourself: are you doing everything you can to optimize for these small screens, for text messaging?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
![\"Ownership](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/media\/94D9F00044BD4D32907B882FA6CDBD4F.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/media\/59EFE0FDD5F24DD8AD54335DAAEFF8F9.jpg\")
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