A video of Susannah Fox’s presentation is now available.
Three-quarters of U.S. adults go online. A majority of U.S. households have broadband internet access. Eight in ten adults have a cell phone. Six in 10 adults go online wirelessly with a laptop or mobile device. Half of adult cell phone owners have apps on their phone.
With each hurdle passed, from basic internet access to broadband to mobile, Pew Internet research shows that each one has a multiplying effect on people’s behavior, making them more likely to share and to contribute to online conversations.
Pew Internet research also shows that people are using these technologies to connect with up-to-date health information and, more powerfully, with each other. The internet enables patients and caregivers to connect with those who share their same health concerns, creating a peer-to-peer network that clinicians can learn from as well.