The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

From an article covering the recent Pew study on broadband internet usage.

“African American households, however, did not fare as well. Though adoption increased from 43 percent to 46 percent, that marks the second year that African Americans reported growth that was below average, the study said.

Interestingly, report author John Horrigan found that Internet use on mobile phones was on the rise among African Americans.

“African Americans are less likely to have broadband at home, but are more likely to be engaging with digital resources on mobile devices,” Horrigan said.” (more from the article)

The Pew study is chock full of interesting tidbits on broadband usage and the American public. This one I found to be really interesting.

“When asked whether they would like to switch to a faster home broadband connection at home, more dial-up users say they are not interested than those who say they do.”

Honestly, I not at all surprised at this revelation. Since most dial-up users tend to be much older (senior citizens), they tend to want to stick to things that they have grown used to over the years. New technology is not something they would gravitate towards as quickly as someone much younger. This also shuts down the argument that most people on dial-up are “stuck” on that means of connectivity because of “X”.

Last year, Radio One teamed up with Yankelovich to put together a comprehensive study on the Black community. Among the many topics that were covered in the study, Internet usage was highlighted.

===

Consumption of Internet:

• Among African Americans age 13-74, 68% are online
• Among Black teens, over 90% are online
• Spend 31 hours a week using the Internet, including e-mail

[...]

Technology Use and Intent to Purchase:

• 59% own a desktop, 22% more are likely to buy one in the next year
• 32% own a laptop, 22% more are likely to buy one in the next year
• 55% have high speed Internet connection at home, 43% more are likely to get in the next
year
• 22% download music weekly
• 61% own a cell phone with a monthly plan
• 27% like to get the newest technology products as soon as they come out

[...]

Connected Black Teens

• Spend 26 hours a week on the Internet
• Half of those who are online visit Black websites at least weekly
• Most likely to want to try new technologies and more likely to use an iPod, do a host of
social and/or entertainment activities on the Internet

Digital Networkers

• Spend 53 hours a week on the Internet
• Heavy users of social networking sites and instant messaging, highest score for visiting social
networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook of all segments

Black Onliners

• Spend 50 hours a week on the Internet
• Nearly 8 in 10 have shopped online in the past month
• Most frequent users of a range of Internet services and sites such as blogs, evites, looking
for dates, chat rooms, instant messaging, and online newsletters
• Most likely to listen to a local radio station online and heaviest consumer of satellite
radio

Stretched Black Straddlers

• Spend 50 hours a week on the Internet
• Most likely to have high speed Internet at home (89%), but also most likely to have gotten it
in the last year

New Middle Class

• Spend 55 hours a week on the Internet
• 100% use the Internet and they have the highest weekly usage of the Internet
• While they have the highest consumption of Internet and magazines, they have the lowest
consumption of TV, watching 35 hours a week

Family Struggles

• Spend 37 hours a week on the Internet
• 70% are online, and they use Internet most often for email and to enter contests
• Lower than average interest in technology

Boomer Blacks

• Spend 41 hours a week on the Internet
• Despite being the oldest segment, 90% are online
• Highest ownership/usage of desktop computers and above average ownership/usage of
Plasma/LCD TVs, DVRs, home theater systems, and high speed Internet at home