Americans’ frequent use of the internet has almost doubled over the last five years, according to a new survey from Gallup.
The survey found that 48% of Americans now report using the internet for more than one hour per day, compared to 26% in 2002.
Post-graduates, those making more than $75,000 per year, and those under age 30 are the most frequent users of the internet in the US, with more than 6 out of 10 in each group saying they use the internet more than one hour per day.
At the same time, the least educated, least affluent, and oldest Americans are those who least often use the internet, with about one-third or fewer in each group saying they use the internet more than one hour per day.
| Changes in Frequent Internet Use from 2007-2008 |
| % saying they use the internet for “more than one hour a day” |
| |
December 6-9, 2007 |
December 4-7, 2008 |
Change |
| National adults |
43 |
48 |
5 |
| By Gender |
| Men |
44 |
53 |
9 |
| Women |
41 |
42 |
1 |
| By Age |
| 18-29 |
50 |
62 |
12 |
| 30-49 |
56 |
54 |
-2 |
| 50-64 |
45 |
45 |
0 |
| 65+ |
14 |
23 |
9 |
| By Annual Income |
| $75,000 or more |
65 |
63 |
-2 |
| $30,000-$75,000 |
41 |
49 |
8 |
| Less than $30,000 |
22 |
32 |
10 |
| By Education |
| Post-graduates |
56 |
68 |
12 |
| College graduates |
56 |
51 |
-5 |
| Some college |
48 |
52 |
4 |
| High school or less |
30 |
34 |
4 |
| By Employment status |
| Employed |
54 |
53 |
-1 |
| Non-working |
28 |
41 |
13 |
| By Marital Status |
| Married |
46 |
47 |
1 |
| Unmarried |
38 |
48 |
10 |
| Source: Gallup |
Last November, a report from the European Interactive Advertising Association found that over half (55%) of European internet users are now online every day.
Three quarters (75%) are using the internet during their evenings, and 51% (up 13% from in 2007) are on the web at the weekends (see 55% of European internet users online every day).
In the same month, research carried out by lifestyle consultancy Tuned In Research revealed that 16-30 year olds in the UK are spending more time online (an average 19 hours per week) than watching TV (an average 15 hours per week) (see 16-30 year olds spending more time online than watching TV).
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