admin's blog

The Pew Foundation, known for their excellent polls and the resultant statistical analyses of common questions, published a (fairly) recent poll regarding the Digital Divide entitled Digital Divisions.  This article separates computer users into three categories: users of broadband, or fast internet, dial-up or traditional users, and non-users.  The results of the poll, in short form, are as follows:

* Two-thirds of American adults go online and one-third do not.
* "Newbies" have become a rare species.
* The percentage of "truly disconnected" has remained stable in the last three years.
* Different access speeds create a new divide among Internet users.
* Connection speed is a more important factor in Internet use than experience.

Connection speed is a more important factor in Internet use than experience.

Internet use increases according to race and level of education; beyond that, someone who has access to a fast connection is more likely to spend more time on the Internet doing tasks than someone with more experience who has a dial-up connection.