PewInternet.org Use of digital technology by different income groups The current state of digital differences Georgetown University Public Policy Forum – Cannon Caucus Room February 22, 2013 Lee Rainie: Director, Pew Internet Project
Internet users – 85% of adults December 2012
Broadband at home – 68% of adults December 2012
Cell phones - 89% of adults January 2013
Smartphones - 47% of adults December 2012
Mobile internet access and its special role for some
Access internet via phone % of cell owners September 2012
Mobile factoids 2-4% of poorer internet users ONLY access internet wirelessly 17% of cell owners of all classes do most of their online browsing on their phones Half (51%) of African-American cell internet users do most of their online browsing on their phone, double the proportion for whites (24%). Two in five Latino cell internet users (42%) also fall into the “cell-mostly” category.
Cell phones and internet access % of “cell internet” users and their main access
Insights about online job searches by household income
Online job searches May 2011 survey
How people seek help on jobs and finances April 2009 Poor are the least likely to say they access any common resources – 22% vs.15% of better off $75K and above -53% internet -49% newspaper, mags, books -46% TV, radio -37% financial professional -33% friends/family -4% “other” $30K and above -46% newspaper, mags, books -42% friends/family -40% TV, radio -27% internet -15% financial professional -7% “other”
Job resources at libraries Poorer people are more likely than the better off to say job resources at libraries are “very important” (75% vs. 57%) Among library computer users, poorer people are twice as likely as the better off to use library technology for job-search and applications (46% vs. 18%)
Other devices
Desktop or laptop - 78% of adults December 2012
Tablet- 31% of adults January 2013
Internet activities
– 76% of adults December 2012
Search engines % of internet users in February 2012
Health information in past 12 months % of internet users in September 2012
Use social networking sites – 54% of adults December 2012
Cell phone activities
Mobile pix % of cell owners September 2012
Texting % of cell owners September 2012
Use via phone % of cell owners September 2012
Use social networking site on phone % of cell users in April 2012
Get news on phone % of cell users in April 2012
Do banking on phone % of cell users in September 2012
Get health information on phone % of cell users in April 2012
Visit govt. website on phone % of cell users in April 2012
Other social media
Social media – Twitter % of internet users in January 2013
Social media – LinkedIn % of internet users August 2012
Social media – Pinterest % of internet users December 2012
Social media – Instagram % of internet users December 2012
Social media – Tumblr % of internet users December 2012
Thank you!