A Look at Internet Use on Mobile Phones
Some 17% of cell phone owners do most of their online browsing on their phone, rather than a computer or other device. Most do so for convenience, but for some their phone is their only option for online access.
Older Adults and Internet Use
As of April, 53% of American adults age 65 and older said they used the internet or email. Though these adults are still less likely than all other age groups to use the internet, this represent the first time that half of seniors are going online.
The Future of Internet Gamification
Interactive games that reward participants with points, badges and discounts are on the rise. Experts believe they will spread widely to key areas, such as education and health by 2020. Others worry about a darker side.
Digital Differences
While the number of Americans who go online has increased substantially over the years, about one-in-five adults still do not use the internet. About half of non-users don’t go online because they don’t think the internet is relevant to them.
The Web is Dead? Experts Say ‘No’
Technology experts generally believe the mobile revolution, the popularity of targeted apps, the monetization of online products and services, and innovations in cloud computing will drive Web evolution.
Millennials Will Benefit And Suffer Due to Hyperconnected Lives
While experts see many young people becoming nimble analysts and decision-makers because of their embrace of the networked world, they also warn that some constantly-connected teens and young adults will lack a deep engagement with people and knowledge by being hyperconnected.
What new uses of the Internet might emerge in the 2012 campaign?
Senior research staff answer questions from readers relating to all the areas covered by our seven projects, ranging from polling techniques and findings, to media, technology, religious, demographic and global attitudes trends.
The Digital Revolution and Higher Education
As online college courses are becoming more prevalent, the public is skeptical about their educational value. Only 29% of Americans say online classes are equal in value to classes taken in person. College presidents have a more positive view of online learning and they foresee dramatic growth in this area.
65% of Online Adults Use Social Networking Sites
Two-thirds of adult internet users (65%) now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn. That’s more than double the percentage that reported social networking site usage in 2008.
Search and Email Still the Most Popular Online Activities
As they have done for nearly a decade, email and search form the core of online communication and online information gathering, respectively, even as new platforms, broadband and mobile devices continue to reshape the way Americans use the internet and web.
