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Internet, Social Media Use and Device Ownership in U.S. have Plateaued After Years of Growth

Accepted submission by Phoenix666 at 2018-10-01 10:58:45
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Pew Research [pewresearch.org]:

The shares of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, use social media, own a smartphone or own a tablet computer are all nearly identical to the shares who said so in 2016. The share who say they have broadband internet service at home currently stands at 65% – nearly identical to the 67% who said this in a survey conducted in summer 2015. And when it comes to desktop or laptop ownership, there has actually been a small dip in the overall numbers over the last two years – from 78% in 2016 to 73% today.

A contributing factor behind this slowing growth is that parts of the population have reached near-saturation levels [pewinternet.org] of adoption of some technologies. Put simply, in some instances there just aren’t many non-users left. For example, nine-in-ten or more adults younger than 50 say they go online or own a smartphone. And a similar share of those in higher-income households have laptops or desktops.

The poor, the rural, the elderly, and those who couldn't care less are the hold-outs.


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