December 23, 2003
Shifting Trends in Internet Use by Americans
About 126 million Americans--or 63 percent of adults--use the Internet regularly, a number that has leveled off in the past two years, according to the latest study fom the Pew Internet and American Life Project. However, more people today than ever before use the Web for serious business, such as shopping, paying bills, banking, conducting other transactions, and interacting with government agencies.
Some of the interesting findings include:
Online activity has consistently grown over the course of our research. Internet users discover more things to do online as they gain experience and as new applications become available. This momentum often fuels increasing reliance on the Internet in everyday life and higher expectations about the way the Internet can be used in matters both mundane and mighty.
Despite this growth in activity, the growth of the online population itself has slowed. There was almost no growth over the course of 2002 and there has been only a small uptick in recent months to leave the size of the online U.S. adult population at 63% of all those 18 and over. More than three-quarters of those between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet.
Different people use the Internet in different ways. Within the online population, specific demographic groups have comparatively high incidence levels for certain online activities.
- Close to two-thirds of Americans now go online to access the Internet.
- Internet use still differs significantly across some demographic groups
- Email continues to trump all as the most popular use of the Internet.
- Information-seeking activities have grown across the board since 2000 — most by 50% or more.
- As the online marketplace has matured; financial and transaction-based activities have grown more than any other type of online pursuit.
- Online Americans continue to explore new hobby and entertainment activities on the Internet
Download is the complete report as a PDF
Posted by rsk at December 23, 2003 11:50 PM