Lee Rainie, director of Internet, Science and Technology research at the Pew Research Center, discussed the Center’s latest findings on digital divides based a survey conducted from Sept. 29 to Nov. 6, 2016. The presentation was to the board of Feeding America. Rainie looked at differences tied to internet access, home broadband ownership, and smartphone ownership by several demographic measures, including household income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, age, and community type. He also discussed the Center’s research related to “digital readiness gaps” among technology users.

1. Digital Divides
Lee Rainie
Director Internet, Science and Technology Research
2.9.17
Feeding America

2. Internet
Home broadband
Smartphone

3. Household income

4. Internet users by household income (Pew Research 2016)
90
81
91 96 97 99 99
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults <$30K $30K-$50K $50K-75K $75K-$100K $100K-$150K >$150K

6. Home broadband users by household income (Pew Research
2016)
73
53
71
83 90 94 94
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults <$30K $30K-$50K $50K-75K $75K-$100K $100K-$150K >$150K

8. Smartphone owners by household income (Pew Research 2016)
77
64
74
83 89 94 94
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults <$30K $30K-$50K $50K-75K $75K-$100K $100K-$150K >$150K

9. Educational attainment

10. Internet users by education (Pew Research 2016)
90
71
84
94 98
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults < HS HS dip. Some coll Coll grad +

12. Home broadband users by education (Pew Research 2016)
73
34
62
80
91
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults < High school HS diploma Some college College degree+

14. Smartphone owners by education (Pew Research 2016)
77
54
69
80
89
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults < HS HS dip. Some coll Coll grad +

15. Race and ethnicity

16. Internet users by race/ethnicity (Pew Research 2016)
90 90 86 90
0
20
40
60
80
100
All White Black Hispanic

18. Home broadband users by race/ethnicity (Pew
Research 2016)
73 78
65 58
0
20
40
60
80
100
All White Black Hispanic

20. Smartphone owners by race/ethnicity (Pew Research
2016)
77 77 72 75
0
20
40
60
80
100
All White Black Hispanic

21. Age

22. Internet use by age (Pew Research 2016)
90
99 96
89
67
0
20
40
60
80
100
All 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

24. Home broadband by age (Pew Research 2016)
73 77 81 75
51
0
20
40
60
80
100
All 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

26. Smartphone ownership by age (Pew Research
2016
77
92 88
74
42
0
20
40
60
80
100
All 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

27. Community type

28. Internet use by community type (Pew Research 2016)
90 90 92
84
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Urban Suburban Rural

30. Census Bureau

31. Home broadband by community type (Pew Research 2016)
73 73 76
63
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Urban Suburban Rural

33. Smartphone owners by community type (Pew Research 2016)
77 77 79
67
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Urban Suburban Rural

34. Disability and language preference (Pew Research)
54%
41%
81%
69%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Use internet Broadband at
home
Those with disabilities All adults
Sept. 2010 - http://bit.ly/1b2G69P
71%
38%
86%
70%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Use internet Broadband at
home
Spanish preferers All adults
Sept. 2013 - unpublished

35. Shift by some towards wireless connectivity
- 13% of adults have
smartphone but no
home broadband
- 15% have limited
options for going online
other than by using
smartphone
- 7% are totally
“smartphone
dependent”
15% of young adults
13% in poor h-holds
12% of blacks
13% of Latinos

36. Most newcomers would need assistance
Would need
someone to
help me
63%
Know enough
to go online
on my own
17%
Would not
want to start
using internet
(VOL.)
13%
DK/Ref
6%

37. Thank you!