May
19
“+ Fifteen Years Online: Overall Internet Use in the United States — The percentage of Americans who use the Internet has reached 80 percent in the current Digital Future study. + Age and the Internet — Not surprisingly, Internet use increases as age decreases. The highest percentage of Internet use is among Americans under age 18. Even at higher age levels, large percentages of Americans use the Internet; for example, 40 percent of those age 66 and older go online — a level that has increased from 29 percent in 2000. + Hours per Week Online — The amount of time that Internet users spent online has grown in each year of the Digital Future studies, and has now surpassed an average of 17 hours per week. + Hours per Week Online: Light Users vs. Heavy Users — The Digital Future study found very large differences between the online hours of heavy users and light users. Light users spent an average of 2.8 hours per week online, compared to heavy users who average 42 hours a week online. + Working Computers in the Home — The percentage of homes with three or more continues to increase. Now, 24 percent of American households have at least three computers. Not surprisingly, the percentage of households with no computers continues to decline; in the current study only 15 percent of homes in America do not have a computer. + Internet Non-Users: Reasons for Not Being Online? — The most common reason for not using the Internet was “no interest” or “not useful” — cited by 30 percent of all non-users — the first time that explanation has been the most-cited reason. In second place, and close behind “lack of interest,” is “no computer” or “no Internet connection.”
Internet Usage (U.S.) Statistics From the 2009 Digital Future Report
