• by May 10, 2001

Interep released a research report today entitled, "Get On-line with the Urban Community," profiling the estimated 8 million African-American Internet users, and documenting the growing number of African-Americans with on-line access.

The report cites statistics from Mediamark Research showing that on-line African-Americans represent a highly valuable consumer group. Compared to the total U.S. African-American community, those on-line are 73% more likely to live in $50,000 plus households. They are 88% more likely to hold a college degree, and 90% more likely to own stocks or other market investments.

Moreover, studies show that black Internet users are less likely than white Internet users to view online ads as an intrusion.

The report also suggested that the so-called "digital divide" is narrowing, and in actuality is based more on income level than on race.

The report cites data from the US Census, which shows that from 1999 to 2000, computer purchases grew 9% among both blacks and whites.

Also, according to the Pew Internet & American Life project, the number of blacks on-line nearly doubled in 2000. Similarly, almost half of black on-line users accessed the Internet for the first time last year. Pew also says that since 1999, black households are now twice as likely to have on-line access.

According to Nielsen//NetRatings, by 2005, an estimated 64% of blacks will have on-line access, up from 44% in 2000.

The report also shows that the Urban Radio format reaches almost 50% of black Internet users each week - a higher percentage than BET, or the average issue of Ebony or Essence magazine.