Internet Access in the U.S.: Trends over 15 years

Colleagues,

Here's my summary of the data from the latest (June 26, 2015) Pew Research Center Internet Survey, Americans’ Internet Access: 2000-2015.  Before you read this, what two groups in America do you think have the lowest Internet access: women, older adults, low-income adults, African-Americans, Latino/Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, those who lack a high school diploma, or those who live in rural areas? 

• 84% of American adults now use the Internet. In 2000 it was a little over 50%. Note, however, that there has been little or no growth since 2012.
• Older adults still lag behind. "Older adults have lagged behind younger adults in their adoption, but now a clear majority (58%) of senior citizens uses the internet" and older adults as a group have a faster adoption rate than young adults. (I presume because young adults are already the group most likely to use the Internet.)
• Education and economic class differences affect access and use. "Those with college educations are more likely than those who do not have high school diplomas to use the internet. Similarly, those who live in households earning more than $75,000 are more likely to be internet users than those living in households earning less than $30,000. Still, the class-related gaps have shrunk dramatically in 15 years as the most pronounced growth has come among those in lower-income households and those with lower levels of educational attainment." Note: 66% of those who have not completed high school, now use the internet. 74% of those with  household incomes below $30K have Internet access.
• Racial and ethnic differences still matter but the gap has narrowed. "African-Americans and Hispanics have been somewhat less likely than whites or English-speaking Asian-Americans to be internet users, but the gaps have narrowed. Today, 78% of African-Americans and 81% of Latino/Hispanic-Americans use the internet, compared with 85% of whites and 97% of English-speaking Asian-Americans.
• Internet access for those in rural areas is still lower but the gap has narrowed. "Those who live in rural areas are less likely than those in the suburbs and urban areas to use the internet." Only 78% of rural residents are online.
• Gender. There has been gender parity for fifteen years.

If you guessed "older adults" (58%) and "those who lack a high school diploma" (66%) you're right; these are the two groups with the lowest rate of Internet access. Although the digital divide has narrowed, for some groups it is still a big problem, and perhaps for people who fit two or more of the gap categories -- older, lacking a high school diploma, low family income, residing in a rural area, African-American, Latino/Hispanic American -- the gap could be even larger.

Surprising to me was that although immigrants are mentioned, "immigrants" is not in itself an Internet access category.

Do any of the trends surprise you?

What role do you think adult basic education should play in helping the 34% of those who lack a high school diploma to get and prepare for using Internet access?

Consider sharing my summary with your colleagues and in your organization newsletter, but if you do, please let me know.  Thanks.

David J. Rosen

Technology and Learning CoP Moderator

djrosen123@gmail.com