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If you’re reading this, that means you’re using the internet — and if you’re using the internet you might find it hard to believe that not everyone else is, too.
But while internet use continues to grow overall, one out of 10 Americans still aren’t online, according to the Pew Research Center.
Internet non-adoption is most commonly linked to variables such as age, educational attainment and household income. Besides age, Americans who never use the internet tend to live in rural communities, have not graduated high school, and have a household income of less than $30,000.
For a more detailed look at the demographic variables, with additional information including interactive charts, check out Pew’s Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet.
Seniors are the most likely age demographic not to use the internet; 27% of adults over 65 are currently offline. That number appears large, but is down 7% from 2018 and dramatically lower than the 86% of Americans over 65 who were not using the internet in the year 2000.
Overall, the percentage of Americans who never use the internet has dropped from 48% in 2000 to 10% in 2019, and those who are online are spending increasing time in front of screens.
The increase of screen time by seniors has grown steadily, as we have covered, and now sits at over four hours a day.
Another recent study reported that grandchildren who spend time with a grandparent at least once a week are spending half that time in front of a screen, provoking concern from health advocates worried about the dangers of excessive screen time for young children.
The dramatic overall increase of internet usage by the vast majority of Americans figures to continue, despite some persistent cost, access, and technological barriers.
Whether that increase in usage ends up being a good development or not remains to be seen.
