8 charts on technology use around the world
In most countries surveyed, around nine-in-ten or more adults are online. In South Korea, 99% of adults use the internet.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In most countries surveyed, around nine-in-ten or more adults are online. In South Korea, 99% of adults use the internet.
Internet use is nearly ubiquitous in Germany, but social media use is not. In fact, Germans stand out internationally for their relatively light use of social media.
A median of 77% across 34 countries surveyed use the internet at least occasionally or own an internet-enabled smartphone.
Although most national officials use the platform, their posts receive only a small number of likes and retweets.
Access to mobile phones and social media is common across emerging economies. People around the world see certain benefits from these technologies, yet there are also concerns about their impact on children.
Whether in advanced or emerging economies, younger people, those with higher levels of education and those with higher incomes are more likely to be digitally connected.
Most in the region feel positively about the role the internet plays in their countries, but long-standing digital divides between internet haves and have-nots persist.
As people in advanced economies reach the upper bounds of internet penetration, the digital divide continues to narrow between wealthy and developing countries.
A global median of 75% want their news media to be unbiased when covering political issues, yet many say the news media do a poor job of reporting on political issues fairly.
India and China have long had a competitive relationship and have emerged as major economic powers. But in the digital space, China has a clear advantage.
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