Most Americans rely on their own research to make big decisions, and that often means online searches
A big majority (81%) of Americans say they rely a lot on their own research – more than say they rely a lot on friends and family or experts.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
A big majority (81%) of Americans say they rely a lot on their own research – more than say they rely a lot on friends and family or experts.
Americans with lower incomes are particularly likely to have concerns related to the digital divide and the digital “homework gap.”
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.
While many technology experts and scholars have concerns about the social, political and economic fallout from the spread of digital activities, they also tend to report that their own experience of digital life has been positive.
The trends in Americans’ views of social media tell a complex story. Read about the dynamics of Americans’ feelings toward social media.
Many experts say digital life will continue to expand people’s boundaries and opportunities. Yet nearly a third think that people’s overall well-being will be more harmed than helped in coming years.
Most Americans think that local libraries serve the educational needs of their communities and families well. But many do not know about key education services libraries provide.
Many experts say lack of trust won’t hinder increased public reliance on the internet. Some expect trust to grow as tech and regulatory changes arise; others think it will worsen or maybe change entirely.
Despite broad concerns about cyberattacks, outages and privacy violations, most experts believe the Internet of Things will continue to expand successfully the next few years.
For many Americans, cellphones are always present and rarely turned off. This creates new social challenges, as people believe that different public and social settings warrant different sensitivities for civil behavior.
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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