Technology Use

Prevalence of Technology Use

It is estimated that 50% of people worldwide use a computer. Computer use is especially high in the United States, where 80% of people have a computer at home. Similarly, mobile phone use has increased dramatically over the past decade. It is estimated that worldwide, 81% of people now own a cell phone. Given the widespread increase in availability of computers and mobile phones, it is not surprising that Internet use has increased substantially as well. For example, in 2000, 70% of young adults living in the United States used the Internet. Since then, the percentage of young adults using the Internet has increased to 96%. Moreover, 74% of those who use the Internet on [Page 2210]the computer have reported visiting social networking sites. The use of social media is especially common in the United States, Poland, Britain, and South Korea, where at least 40% of adults report that they use such sites. Accordingly, most family members now have constant access to one another. Although the telephone remains a common way to connect, many individuals now frequently connect to one another via texting, e-mail, and social networking sites. The use of text messaging is becoming increasingly popular among all age groups. In the United States, 61% of parents report that they text their adult children, and 25% of grandparents communicate with their grandchildren via text messaging.

The elderly are also joining the technology revolution, with 58% of seniors (those 65 years of age or older) reporting that they use the Internet. Many older individuals are also embracing social media sites. In 2014, 58% of online seniors reported using Facebook. Smartphone use similarly is on the rise among senior citizens, and 27% of seniors now own a smartphone.

Although most people throughout the world now use communications technology in their daily life, young people are by far the savviest users, and their usage continues to increase. In 2002, 73% of U.S. adolescents reported using the Internet; today, the figure is 95%, with 92% reporting daily use. Being online has become second nature to many adolescents, with 24% reporting that they are online almost constantly. This dramatic rise in Internet use has been facilitated by the growth of smartphone use, and 73% of adolescents now have access to a smartphone. In addition to Internet access, most adolescents use their phones to send text messages. Of those adolescents who own a cell phone, 91% send texts, either directly through their phone or through a text messaging app. Texting now is the primary way that adolescents communicate with their friends, with 55% of adolescents reporting that they text their friends daily. The use of text messaging apps such as Kik and WhatsApp are increasingly common among adolescents.

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