Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Experts are split about the likely evolution of a truly immersive “metaverse.” They expect that augmented- and mixed-reality enhancements will become more useful in people’s daily lives. Many worry that current online problems may be magnified if Web3 development is led by those who built today’s dominant web platforms.
61% of U.S. adults say they have heard at least a fair amount about the phrase “cancel culture,” up from 44% in September 2020.
A majority of teens prefer in-person over virtual or hybrid learning. Hispanic and lower-income teens are particularly likely to fear they’ve fallen behind in school due to COVID-19 disruptions.
44% of Americans think major technology companies should be regulated more than they are now, down from 56% in April 2021.
In April 2021, we followed up with many of the same parents surveyed in March 2020 on their children’s use of technology and social media.
Americans regard advances in artificial intelligence and human enhancement technologies with a degree of caution and uncertainty.
Public views are tied to how these technologies would be used and what constraints would be in place.
Asked to “imagine a better world online,” experts hope for a ubiquitous – even immersive – digital environment that promotes fact-based knowledge, offers better defense of individuals’ rights, empowers diverse voices and provides tools for technology breakthroughs and collaborations to solve the world’s wicked problems.
Adoption of key technologies by those in the oldest age group has grown markedly since about a decade ago.
75% of U.S. adults say they have read a book in the past 12 months in any format, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2011.
