Digital Divide

Nearly 25 years after the birth of the world wide web, most Americans have computers and internet access, but the nation remains a patchwork of connectivity, with some metro areas full of high-speed connections and others much less plugged in.

Lee Rainie presented the latest findings about who has and doesn’t have access to the internet, broadband, and cell phones.

Statement of Aaron Smith, Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center’s Internet Project, before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, on "Broadband Adoption: The Next Mile."

Aaron Smith, Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center’s Internet Project, gave testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet.

Up from 25% last year, more than half of those in households earning $75,000 or more now have tablets. Up from 19% last year, 38% of those in upper-income households now have e-readers.

Aaron Smith discusses the Project’s latest research about internet usage, broadband adoption, and the impact of mobile connectivity among lower-income populations.

A breakdown of how internet users go online, including those with home access and the type of access, is shown in this table.

As of May 2013, 15% of American adults ages 18 and older do not use the internet or email. An additional 9% of adults use the internet but lack home access.

15% of American adults do not use the internet at all, and another 9% of adults use the internet but not at home.