Rural Residents & Tech

Rural residents in the U.S. lag behind those in suburban and urban areas when it comes to technology adoption.

Depending on the local news topic, urban residents are more likely to use mobile and online sources, while suburbanites are most heavily into social media and rural residents are more inclined to word of mouth sources. A joint PEJ-Pew Internet report offers more about how people get local news in specific communities.

Depending on the topic, urban residents are more likely to use mobile and online sources; suburbanites are most heavily into social media; and rural residents are more inclined to word of mouth sources

Use of video-sharing sites jumps since last year – 71% of online adults use such sites now. Rural internet users have caught up to others in their use of these sites, and minorities are more likely than whites to visit them.

Fully 71% of online Americans use video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. Rural internet users have caught up to others in their use of these sites, and minorities are more likely than whites to visit them.

Lee Rainie gave a keynote address at the “Opportunity Online” meeting of the Colorado Public Computer Centers Launch. He discussed the state of broadband adoption, particularly in rural areas, and how it parallels other online revolutions in mobil...

Most broadband users see home high-speed connections as very important in community and civic life.

James Fallows writes in the current Atlantic Monthly about the power of blogging... in rural China.

There was no growth in broadband adoption among poorer families or blacks, while growth was strong among rural residents, older Americans, and those in households earning $20,000 to $40,000

In China, the internet cafe has overtaken the workplace as the second most popular place after their own homes for internet users to go online. Most of the increase in internet café use is in rural areas.