Commentary

More Internet Usage From The Laggards

According to the National Telecommunications & Information Administration Study, (NTIA), Americans are making strides in Internet usage among groups of people who have historically been known for their offline status. According to the just released data from 2015, senior citizens increased their Internet usage from 51 to 56% between 2013-2015, while children saw an even larger spike, jumping from 56 to 66% during the same time period.

The digital divide is also shrinking, though slowly, for groups of Americans with education up to a high school diploma. African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians and Alaska Natives also increased their online activities by several percentage points.

Percent of American Internet Users, by Age Group

Age Group

2013

2015

3-14

56%

66%

15-24

84

85

25-44

83

83

45-64

73

77

65 +

51

56

Source: NTIA, March 2016

Internet usage among segments of the population that are more likely to go online, such as white Americans, those with a college degree and adults between the ages of 25-44, have remained relatively steady with little to no increases. Meanwhile, groups of Americans who have generally faced difficulties in gaining online access, whether due to low educational attainment, economic status or age, are gradually making headway in the digital world, says the report.

Percent of Americans 15 and Older Using Internet, by Education

Educational Attainment

2013%

2015%

College Grad

89%

88%

Some College

83

83

HS Grad

64

67

No Diploma

54

58

Source: NTIA, March 2016

The report also points out that several shifts in the technology age have led to Internet usage becoming a much more individual activity in recent years, thanks to the widespread availability of smartphones, Wi-Fi, mobile broadband and various connected devices. While research used to focus on Internet usage in the home, now it primarily looks at online activity among individuals from a range of locations.

The report concludes by noting that, while there is still a long way to go to close the digital divide between U.S. demographic groups, the shift towards mobile devices has given a hand to those who have typically been left behind by technology in the past.

For additional data, please visit here.

 

 

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