8 charts on internet use around the world as countries grapple with COVID-19
A median of 77% across 34 countries surveyed use the internet at least occasionally or own an internet-enabled smartphone.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
A median of 77% across 34 countries surveyed use the internet at least occasionally or own an internet-enabled smartphone.
Smartphone users in emerging economies – especially those who use social media – tend to be more exposed to people with different backgrounds and more connected with friends they don’t see in person.
Roughly half of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on their cellphones, and two-thirds of parents express concern over their teen’s screen time. But parents face their own challenges of device-related distraction.
Many who use social media say they regularly see false or misleading content, but also view these platforms as offering new avenues for political engagement.
The share of 18- to 24-year-olds who report having used online dating has nearly tripled in the past two years, while usage among 55- to 64-year-olds has doubled.
The sharing economy and on-demand services are weaving their way into the lives of many Americans, raising difficult issues around jobs, regulation and the potential emergence of a new digital divide.
Smartphone and tablet ownership continues to rise, while the adoption of some digital devices has slowed and even declined in recent years.
36% of adult smartphone owners use messaging apps, while 17% use apps that automatically delete sent messages. These types of apps are adding to an already complex terrain of digital and social communication. Meanwhile, social media platforms continue to attract dedicated users.
For many Americans, cellphones are always present and rarely turned off. This creates new social challenges, as people believe that different public and social settings warrant different sensitivities for civil behavior.
Although seniors tend to lag their younger counterparts in tech adoption, more seniors than those 18-29 describe their smartphone as liberating.
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