Three in ten Americans are online almost constantly, while 85 percent of Americans go online several times a day, according to a survey by Pew Research Center.
More than eight of ten Americans go online daily while eight percent go online several times a week. Only seven percent of adults say they don’t use the Internet at all.
In 2015, only 21 percent of Americans reported they were online almost constantly.
When age is considered, 44 percent of 18 to 49-year-olds go online almost constantly, while 22 percent of adults 50 to 64 years say they are online almost constantly.
For adults 65 and older, only eight percent say they use the Internet that often.
Released March 26, 2021, the Pew Research Center report is based on a survey of 1,502 adults conducted January 25, 2021 to February 8, 2021.
Key Takeaways
- College-educated adults, urban residents, and adults in higher-income households report almost always going online
- The number of 30- to 49-year-old American adults who report they are online constantly has risen 14 points since 2015; the share of 50- to 64-year-old adults has risen 12 percent to 22 percent since 2015.
- Forty-two percent of adults with a college education or more go online almost constantly compared to 23 percent of those with a high school education or less
- Forty percent of adults with an annual household income of $75,000+ use the Internet almost constantly vs 27 percent of those from households earning less than $30,000
- Urban (37 percent) and suburban (30 percent) adults are more likely to be online constantly than those who live in rural areas (23 percent)
- About the same number of Black (37 percent) and Hispanic (36 percent) adults report going online on an almost-constant basis, while White adults (28 percent) report going online almost constantly
- The number of Hispanic adults that report almost always going online has risen 17 points since 2015
I was intrigued to learn how many people surveyed said they’re constantly online.
Given the pandemic has caused so many workers to work from home and college students to take classes virtually, I expected the numbers to be event higher.
The 2021 survey was similar to the 2015 survey which showed urban and suburban Americans are online more frequently than those who live in rural areas.
Broadband still needs to expand into rural areas in America.
Did any of the survey results surprise you?
Why am I not surprised at this?
Did the research cite any negative effects? I find it quite weird when friends or couples are out together and are looking at their smartphones more than chatting to one another. It’s just not polite!
Hi Claire,
Thanks for stopping by. The summary report didn’t include negative effects, but a Pew Research Center report in 2012 pointed out the benefits and disadvantages for millenials to always be connected.
Claire, I agree, I get frustrated when I’m out with family or friends and everyone’s looking at their phone. I had a wonderful dinner with friends last week during WordCamp US. I don’t remember any of us pulling out our smartphones until the end of the meal. It was lovely!