Hispanics See Cell Phone as a Necessity

Nearly six-in-ten (59%) of all Hispanic adults in this country consider the cell phone a necessity, rather than a luxury, compared with fewer than half of non-Hispanic whites (46%) and non-Hispanic blacks (46%), a Pew survey finds. However, another Pew survey finds that Hispanics are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to own a cell phone. Three in four (75%) non-Hispanic white adults have a cell phone and 31% of white cell phone users send and receive text messages on their phone. By comparison, 59% of Latino adults have a cell phone and 49% of Latino cell phone users send and receive text messages on their phone. Cell phone ownership is associated with essentially the same demographic characteristics as internet usage. For example, cell phone use is markedly lower for Spanish-speakers: 42% have a mobile phone, compared with 75% of English-dominant Latinos. Native-born Latinos are more likely than foreign-born Latinos to use a cell phone — 72% versus 50%. However, Latinos over age 60 are more likely to have a cell phone than an internet connection, which is also true in the non-Hispanic population. Read More