Broadband, Cell Phones, and the Continuing Reality of the Grey Gap Susannah Fox Associate Director Pew Internet Project
June 22, 2007
32% of adults age 65+ go online
(Source: Pew Internet Project telephone surveys, 2000-2007)
2000-2007
100% 80% 65% 60% 40% 20% 0% Age 18-29 Age 30-49 Age 50-64 Age 65+ 32% 87%
83%
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17% of Americans live with a disability or chronic disease; half go online.
(Source: Pew Internet Project surveys, Nov-Dec 2002 and Aug 2006)
100% 80% 61% 60% 40% 20% 0% Living with disability or illness No disability or illness 35% 51% 2002 2006 74%
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Top online activities for seniors
(Source: Pew Internet Project survey Feb. 2007)
• 51% of adults age 60-69 go online
– Of those, 88% use email, 72% get health info, 75% get hobby info, and 67% get news online
• 26% of adults age 70+ go online
– Of those, 86% use email, 65% get health info, 56% get hobby info, and 53% get news online
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Home Broadband Adoption by Age, 2005-2007
2005 70% 60% 50% 38% 40% 30% 20% 8% 10% 0% 18-29
Broadband… the Grey Gap
2006 59%
2007
63% 55% 50%
36%
38% 27%
40%
13% 15%
30-49
50-64
65+
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Home Broadband Adoption by Household Income, 2005-2007
2005 80% 70% 58% 60% 46% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Under $30K $30K-$50K $50K-$75K Over $75K
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2006
2007 76% 68% 57%
48% 35%
43% 30% 21% 15% 27%
Broadband… the Grey Gap
Home Broadband Adoption by Educational Level, 2005-2007
2005 70% 58% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 10% 0% LT HS
Broadband… the Grey Gap
2006
2007 62% 47%
70%
47% 34% 35%
31% 21% 17% 20%
HS Grad
Some Coll
College +
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Typology Survey Methodology
• Large survey (n=4,001) that focused on three dimensions of use of information & communication technology (ICTs): Assets Actions Attitudes
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31% of adults are tech-oriented
• Omnivores (8%) … in their late twenties • Connectors (7%) … in their late 30s, mostly women • Lackluster Veterans (8%) … 40ish men • Productivity Enhancers (8%) … also 40-ish
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18% of adults are mid-range users • Mobile Centrics (8%) … in their early 30s • Connected but Hassled (10%) … mid-40s
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49% of adults are low-tech
• Inexperienced Experimenters (8%) … 50-ish women • Light but Satisfied (15%) … early 50s • Indifferents (11%) … late 40s • Off the Network (15%) … mostly women in mid-60s
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Age and the Typology Groups
30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0%
Ex p vo re s sl ed re nt tri c ts or s s d an ce r Ve en In x fie as if f e O ff ec t tis N et
% population
% over 50
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Challenge #1: Inexperienced Experimenters • 64% need help with new technology (average is 32%) • 76% like how information technology makes them more available to others (average is 48%) • 61% say information technology helps them a lot to learn new things (average is 51%)
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Challenge #2: Light but Satisfied
• 67% need help with new technology (average is 32%) • 33% like how information technology makes them more available to others (average is 48%) • 25% say information technology helps them a lot to learn new things (average is 51%)
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Please contact me:
Susannah Fox sfox@pewinternet.org 202-419-4511
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