Selected stories written by Pew Internet Project staff for other publications.
The Numbers that Count
Published in New Media & Society
4/1/2004 | 
Article |
After all the attention paid to Internet data, what have surveys shown in the five years since New Media and Society began publication? As a rule, people say they appreciate clear benefits from Internet use and the level of enthusiasm is tied to their level of use of the Internet. At the same time, several larger insights can be drawn from surveys: The growth of the online population in the United States has stopped and digital divides persist. There is notable flux among Internet users. The composition of the online population has changed and that has changed the character of online activities because different people use the Internet in different ways. Users get more serious and expansive in their online activities as they gain experience. Expectations about the resources available online and the capacities of the Internet have soared. The “broadband era” is well underway. There are hints that Internet use is displacing some other life activities.
Full Citation: Rainie, Lee & Bell, Peter. "The Numbers that Count," New Media & Society, April 2004, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp. 44-54.
Other Internet Evolution Resources
Memo | Use of Cloud Computing Applications and Services
Report | Digital Footprints
Memo | Wireless Internet Access
Memo | Riding the Waves of "Web 2.0"
Report | The Future of the Internet II
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
