A Quarter of Americans Aren't on the Web

gigaom.com

4 points·makaimc··7 comments

It would be interesting to compare adoption rates of previous technologies (telephone, television, electricity, ...) to those of PCs and the internet.

Eventually everyone will be on the web because the quarter that aren't using it are in two groups: older Americans and rural areas. Older Americans will pass on and wireless technologies will connect rural parts of the country.

I know plenty of 30-something, 40-something and 50-something people who have the means, and access to the web but choose not to.

You'd be surprised at how many people in their 30's missed "that whole Internet thing" and could care less.

I'm 28, my first exposure to the web was 1995/6 when I was in high school. However among my peers I was in the minority of people who actually used the web (even today).

And I would guess there are many people who are nominally online, but only use the web/email "if they have to" (to get a cheap airfare, to keep in touch with their children, ...).

You are absolutely right. Quite a few of my 30-something friends "Internet browsing" seems to consist solely of using Facebook. (It's the new AOL)

They should probably stay right where they are. I don't want anyone to hurt themselves.

This also explains why 25% of people thought George W Bush wasn't "Worst President EVER", I guess.

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