The Internet and Campaign 2010
54% of adults used the internet for political purposes in the 2010 election cycle, far surpassing the 2006 midterm contest.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
54% of adults used the internet for political purposes in the 2010 election cycle, far surpassing the 2006 midterm contest.
More than a quarter of American adults – 26% – used their cell phones to learn about or participate in the 2010 mid-term election campaign.
Trends in technology use and adoption among African-Americans and Latinos
Six in ten Americans go online wirelessly using a laptop or cell phone; African-Americans and 18-29 year olds lead the way in the use of cell phone data applications, but older adults are gaining ground.
One in five Americans use digital tools to communicate with neighbors and monitor community developments.
The internet gives citizens new paths to government services and information.
Just as in offline politics, the well-off and well-educated are especially likely to participate in online activities that mirror offline forms of engagement. But there are hints that social media may alter this pattern.
Online activists and concerned citizens are using the internet to learn about the financial crisis, share their views on the proposed bailout, and organize their friends.
A record-breaking 46% of Americans have already used the internet for politics this election season and Barack Obama’s backers have an edge.
More teens are creating and sharing material on the internet. 28% of online teens have blogs, up from 2004 with growth fueled almost entirely by girls. “Super communicators” rise as email fades as a tool for teens.
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