The internet - what is it used for?
Dec 11th, 2007 by Hans De Keulenaer
(5 votes, average: 3.2 out of 5)
Loading ...We know the internet saves us trips to the library and to bookshops. It helps us in doing research. And we can no longer imagine communications and networking without it.
To know how big exactly is the internet, and who is using it for what, the Pew Internet project provides good information for USA. Although there seems to be an education, income and race bias [1], internet use is pretty big across all demographic strata.
Business uses are relatively lower than typical private uses, but that’s just because they address a subset of population. I’m impressed to note that [2]:
- 91% of internet users (71% of American adults) use search engines
- 78% use internet for product information
- 51% use internet for research for their job
- 28% use internet for searching information on someone they might meet
- a staggering 19% create content online
- 12% download podcasts
- 12% take online classes for credit
Some of above metrics date back from 2005, others are more recent.
A wealth on more specific trends on internet use and its broader ramifications can be found on the site.
References
[1] Demographics of Internet Users
[2] Internet Activities
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