8 charts on internet use around the world as countries grapple with COVID-19
A median of 77% across 34 countries surveyed use the internet at least occasionally or own an internet-enabled smartphone.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
A median of 77% across 34 countries surveyed use the internet at least occasionally or own an internet-enabled smartphone.
Roughly half of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on their cellphones, and two-thirds of parents express concern over their teen’s screen time. But parents face their own challenges of device-related distraction.
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.
As people in advanced economies reach the upper bounds of internet penetration, the digital divide continues to narrow between wealthy and developing countries.
The sharing economy and on-demand services are weaving their way into the lives of many Americans, raising difficult issues around jobs, regulation and the potential emergence of a new digital divide.
Smartphone and tablet ownership continues to rise, while the adoption of some digital devices has slowed and even declined in recent years.
In a few short years, the proliferation of mobile phone networks has transformed communications in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also allowed Africans to skip the landline stage of development and jump right to the digital age.
As more people around the world gain access to all the tools of the digital age, the internet will play a greater role in everyday life. And so far, people in emerging and developing nations say that the increasing use of the internet has been a good influence in the realms of education, personal relationships and the economy.
Experts foresee changes across all aspects of life as digital connectivity advances. They predict hyper-personalized interactions, 3D holograms, immersive virtual reality and a deepening dependency upon machines as we navigate our lives.
The overall verdict: The internet has been a plus for society and an especially good thing for individual users
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