Internet Usage – How Do You Compare?

Recent studies show how we are using the internet today.  Where do you fall in the mix?

According to Pew Research Center, in the year 2000, approximately half of all American adults used the internet in some shape or form. Today, roughly nine-in-ten American adults use the internet to connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives.

For more than 15 years, Pew Research Center has documented the internet growth and distribution in the United States. Here are some of their findings;

As broadband services became more widespread and available between the years of 2000 and 2010, the populations usage increased proportionately.

Interesting is that the percentage of home services broadband usage has started to decline.  This is largely due to the use of smart phones.  Today, 1 in 5 American adults are “smart-phone only” internet users (meaning, they own a smart phone, but do not have traditional home broadband services.)

Next, we looked at the age demographics and their use of the internet.

Starting with the age 65 and older group, social media account ownership was around 12% just 7 years ago.  Today, that figure has risen to 37%.  The overwhelming majority of this age group uses Facebook as their social media “go-to”.  While only 9% utilize LinkedIn.

Those between the ages of 50 and 64 ranked high with 65% holding a Facebook profile, while 24% of this age group utilize LinkedIn.

The next age group utilized Facebook and LinkedIn as well, however, a shift in how this age group uses social media platforms is of interest.  Forty percent of those in their thirties and forties report that social media is where they obtain most of their news.

Millennials, according to a study conducted by Harvard IOP reported that this group is more likely to use image-led social media such as Instagram and Snapchat.  Of the millennials aged 18-24, 51% use Instagram, while only 34% of the 25-29 aged millennials are using the same.  Those using Snapchat was higher as well with the age 18-24 group at 42% while only 20% of the millennials age 25-29 use the platform.

And finally, how do we stack up to other countries?  Here are the top 10 Countries with the highest number of internet users.  Interestingly, in the U.S. our percentage of usage is the highest with Japan a close second.

Source: Internet World Stats  https://www.internetworldstats.com/