In 1995, one out of every 10 adults were interested to go online in the US, but now, the situation has been changed. A research analysis firm “Pew Internet & American Life Project” has reportedly stated that 75% adults were using internet till August 2011 in the US—including 95% were teenagers till the month. Numbers of internet users such as adults (living in the households having lower incomes) and seniors are still very low in the country. ‘Wariness’ and ‘misunderstanding about internet world’ were two most important factors which hurdled the expansion of internet in 1995.
‘Internet uses’ are being correlated with age, education, and household income. Until August 2011, 76% of women used the internet. Numbers of adults using high speed broadband at home in the US are still meager in number compare to the total non-broad band users in the country.
In terms of internet use, neither race nor gender plays any significant role, but education, age-groups and households income are determining factors for the adoption. The study reports that folks whose households income less than $20,000 per year are less likely to use internet.
In 2000, youngsters were highly interest to go online, while seniors shunned from internet. However, seniors over 65Â years are still less likely to use internet. The internet use ratio between adults (less than 30 years) and seniors (over 65 years) were five-to-one in 2000, but the ratio shrunk almost to two-to-one by 2011.
In the internet use, education matters a lot, Â 94% college graduate use internet, while those, who has done just high school and those who have not yet completed its high school degrees, are using 71% and 43% internet respectively.
95% users  living in households and having yearly income more than $75,000 use internet compare to those having yearly incomes are in between $50,000-$74,999 and less than $30,000, using 90% and 62% internet respectively.
Prior to 2000, 54% (especially seniors and folks having less than high school qualification) believed that the internet was ‘a dangerous thing’; while, 39% (adults less than 30 years) said that it was expansive. On the contrary, 36% folks said that the internet was confusing and it was hard to use.
Presently, 48% users are not willing to go through the internet because they believe that it’s irrelevant for them. Price is also a concern for 21% folks to not use the internet, but for 6%, the lack of accessibility and availability are the main reasons.
Indeed, the study has clearly elaborated how the factors such as household income, educations and demographic age variance determine the internet penetration across the US. Undoubtedly, the factors are also relevant to other part of the world too.
Source:Â Pew Internet & American Life Project
