Tom Rosentiel

The share of U.S. adults who own an e-book reader — such as Kindle or Nook — doubled to 12% in May 2011 from 6% in November 2010. This is the first time that ownership of this device has reached double digits among adults.

Close to half of all adults now use social networking sites (SNS) — double the number users in 2008 — and the average user is getting older. Are there benefits associated with being connected to others in this way? A new study finds SNS users more trusting, engaged and able to keep close social ties.

After years of modest activity, online phone calling has taken off as a quarter of American adult internet users (24%) have placed phone calls online. That amounts to 19% of all American adults.

Eight-in-ten internet users have looked online for health information such as a specific disease or treatment, and an increasing number are sharing their own medical experiences and thoughts on the internet.