Trends in Internet Adoption and Use: Comparing Minority Groups John B. Horrigan, Ph.D. Presentation for OTX Research May 11, 2004
Presentation Overview General trends in Internet Adoption Focus on “hard to reach audiences”, i.e., Hispanics, African-Americans Opportunities in Hispanic, African American segments
Big picture – as of February million American adults – or 64% – are Internet users 19 million teens (age 12 to 17) are Internet users, or 77%. About 70 million American adults online on the average day. 48 million American adults have high-speed connections at home.
Percent Adult Americans Online
Trends in Internet use – by race
Internet penetration by race – End of 2003 (% Americans age 18 and over)
Internet penetration by race & age – End of 2003 (% Americans age 30 and under)
Internet penetration by race & education – End of 2003 (% Americans over age 18 and college graduates)
Internet penetration – age groups
Latest broadband numbers February % of adult Americans have broadband at home That’s 39% of adult Internet users That’s a 60% increase in past year DSL is big winner – More than half of growth in past year due to DSL subscriptions
Broadband at home,
Broadband at home -- subgroups
Broadband at home – by race
Profile of Online & Offline Population February 2004 Online demographics – Whites: 75% – African American: 8% – Hispanics: 11% – Other: 6% Average Age (Internet users): – Whites: 41.9 – African American: 36.6 – Hispanics: 33.8 Offline demographics – Whites: 69% – African American: 15% – Hispanics: 11% – Other: 5% Average Age (Non- Internet users): – Whites: 58.3 – African American: 50.9 – Hispanics: 41.1
Rhythms of use – by race WhitesAfrican- American Hispanics Online yesterday59%35%41% Go online from home 84%81%76% Log on several times per day 29%14%18% Number of years online # of online activities – ever 7.5 (out of 18) 7.3 (out of 18) 7.0 (out of 18) # of online activities – daily 3.4 (out of 18) 2.6 (out of 18) 3.4 (out of 18)
What people do online – % of Internet users who have ever done following activities – 91% Search engine – 88% Map/directions – 84% Info query – 80% Research product before purchase – 78% News – 70% Surf for fun – 67% Travel info – 66% Health medical – 66% Buy product – 65% Travel reservations – 57% Job-related research – 51% Political news – 46% Download (games, videos, pictures) – 42% Bank online – 34% Religious/spiritual info – 29% Download music – 18%
What people do online – % of Internet users who, on typical day, do following activities – 48% Search engine – 31% Get news – 27% Surf for fun – 23% Hobby – 21% Info search – 21% Research product before purchase – 15% Get financial info – 12% Audio/video clip – 11% Play a game – 9% Bank online – 9% Government Web site – 9% Look up phone # – 7% Online auction – 3% Read a blog – 3% Buy a product – 3% Search for info about a person you might meet – 3% Download video file – 2%
Playing games online
Do search in answer to a question
Get sports scores online
Get religious/spiritual information
Buy a product online
Research a product online
Participate in online auction
Do Banking online
Download music
One hand … other hand Minority groups tend to lag whites in Internet use by various measures …penetration, intensity of use, number of years online. Tech elite – measured not just by Net use – tend to be whites. But minorities show willingness to spend on information goods and services.
Cell phone use – by race October 2002
Cable TV penetration – by race October 2002
Satellite dish penetration – by race October 2002
Premium TV Channels – by race October 2002
DVD players at home – by race October 2002
Average monthly spending, selected information goods (phone, cell phone, cable TV, premium channels, ISP, online content) – October 2002
Summing up African-Americans and, to lesser extent, Hispanics lag whites in Internet use – by several measures – Overall penetration – Broadband use – Frequency of use African-Americans use the Internet to get information and for entertainment. – Lag on online transactions/ecommerce Minority groups show willingness to spend money on information goods & service, but these dollars go to old media
Reach me … John B. Horrigan – – Pew Internet & American Life Project 1100 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 710 Washington, DC 20036