# data[].attributes.headline
An article from ResearchGate (2025) that correlates dropouts in higher ed with lack of access to technology entitled "Digital divide as an explanatory variable for dropout in higher education"

# data[].attributes.subject
An article from ResearchGate (2025) that correlates dropouts in higher ed with lack of access to technology entitled "Digital divide as an explanatory variable for dropout in higher education"

# data[].attributes.headline
Article from Midwest Higher Education Compact (2021) regarding what is to be improved on regarding the digital divide after the Covid-19 pandemic entitled: "The Digital Divide Among College Students: Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Emergency Transition"

# data[].attributes.subject
Article from Midwest Higher Education Compact (2021) regarding what is to be improved on regarding the digital divide after the Covid-19 pandemic entitled: "The Digital Divide Among College Students: Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Emergency Transition"

# data[].attributes.headline
This article from International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education (2020) highlights how the digital divide can impact faculty too entitled: "Digital divide among higher education faculty"

# data[].attributes.subject
This article from International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education (2020) highlights how the digital divide can impact faculty too entitled: "Digital divide among higher education faculty"

# data[].attributes.headline
From act.org, despite increased access to technology, this web article (2024) highlights some ways we still lack in bridging the digital divide entitled: "'Digital Divide' Still Holds Students Back Despite Improving Access to Technology "

# data[].attributes.subject
From act.org, despite increased access to technology, this web article (2024) highlights some ways we still lack in bridging the digital divide entitled: "'Digital Divide' Still Holds Students Back Despite Improving Access to Technology "

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ACT is transforming college and career readiness pathways, empowering learners with trusted resources, assessments, and credentials for education and workplace success.

# data[].attributes.headline
This web article from calmatters.org (2020) introduces the facts of low income college students and lack of access to the internet entitled : "Report: More than 100,000 low-income California college students lack internet access"

# data[].attributes.subject
This web article from calmatters.org (2020) introduces the facts of low income college students and lack of access to the internet entitled : "Report: More than 100,000 low-income California college students lack internet access"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Julianna Domingo, Shehreen Karim, Charlotte West

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Report: More than 100,000 low-income California college students lack internet access

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uneven access to technology poses a barrier to students’ learning as colleges begin planning for a spring semester online.

# data[].attributes.headline
From rutgers.edu, a web article (2025) Covid-19 and graduation rates entitled: "Access to Reliable Internet and Digital Devices Tied to College Graduation Rates During COVID-19"

# data[].attributes.subject
From rutgers.edu, a web article (2025) Covid-19 and graduation rates entitled: "Access to Reliable Internet and Digital Devices Tied to College Graduation Rates During COVID-19"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Access to Reliable Internet and Digital Devices Tied to College Graduation Rates During COVID-19

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Digital inequality – challenges in accessing or maintaining an internet connection and functional digital devices – affected on-time graduation for U.S. college students over the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study co-authored by Rutgers researchers.

# data[].attributes.headline
From Pew Research center. Web article (2024) titled "Internet, Broadband Fact Sheet"

# data[].attributes.subject
From Pew Research center. Web article (2024) titled "Internet, Broadband Fact Sheet"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The internet represents a fundamental shift in how Americans connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives. For more than 20 years, Pew Research Center has documented its growth and distribution in the United States. Explore the patterns of internet and home broadband adoption below.

To better understand Americans' smartphone and broadband adoption, Pew Research Center surveyed 5,626 U.S. adults from Feb. 1 to June 10, 2024. SSRS conducted this National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) for the Center using address-based sampling and a multimode protocol that included web, mail and phone. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race and ethnicity, education and other categories.

Surveys fielded before 2023 were conducted via phone. For more on the mode shift in 2023, read our Q&A.

Here are the questions used for this analysis, along with responses, and its methodology .

Internet use over time

When the Center began systematically tracking Americans' internet usage in early 2000, about half of all adults were already online. Today, 96% of U.S. adults say they use the internet.

% of U.S. adults who say they use the internet

Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2000-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. In 2024, the poll was conducted via web, mail and phone. For more on the mode shift in 2023, read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2000-2024. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys conducted during that year.

% of U.S. adults who say they use the internet

Year

U.S. adults

2000

52%

2001

55%

2002

59%

2003

61%

2004

63%

2005

68%

2006

71%

2007

74%

2008

74%

2009

76%

2010

76%

2011

79%

2012

83%

2013

84%

2014

84%

2015

86%

2016

88%

2018

89%

2019

90%

2021

93%

2023

95%

2024

96%

Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2000-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. In 2024, the poll was conducted via web, mail and phone. For more on the mode shift in 2023, read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2000-2024. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys conducted during that year.

Who uses the internet?

For some demographic groups - such as younger adults, those with at least some college experience and those from high-income households - internet usage is near universal.

Tab Contents

% of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, by age

Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2000-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. In 2024, the poll was conducted via web, mail and phone. For more on the mode shift in 2023, read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2000-2024. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys conducted during that year.

% of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, by age

Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2000-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. In 2024, the poll was conducted via web, mail and phone. For more on the mode shift in 2023, read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2000-2024. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys conducted during that year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The internet represents a fundamental shift in how Americans connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives. Explore the patterns, trends and statistics of internet and home broadband adoption in the United States.

# data[].attributes.headline
A 2024 article from GSA titled "Examining First- and Second-Level Digital Divide at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status: An Analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study"

# data[].attributes.subject
A 2024 article from GSA titled "Examining First- and Second-Level Digital Divide at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status: An Analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study"

# data[].attributes.headline
A 2021 article from PMC titled "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on faculty at research-intensive United States schools/colleges of pharmacy"

# data[].attributes.subject
A 2021 article from PMC titled "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on faculty at research-intensive United States schools/colleges of pharmacy"

# data[].attributes.headline
A 2023 article from National Skills Coalition titled "New Report: 92% of Jobs Require Digital Skills, One-Third of Workers Have Low or No Digital Skills Due to Historic Underinvestment, Structural Inequities "

# data[].attributes.subject
A 2023 article from National Skills Coalition titled "New Report: 92% of Jobs Require Digital Skills, One-Third of Workers Have Low or No Digital Skills Due to Historic Underinvestment, Structural Inequities "

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New Report: 92% of Jobs Require Digital Skills, One-Third of Workers Have Low or No Digital Skills Due to Historic Underinvestment, Structural Inequities - National Skills Coalition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Closing the digital skill divide would generate significant, measurable economic payoff for workers, businesses, and the broader economy. WASHINGTON, DC – February 6, 2023 – Today, National Skills Coalition (NSC) […]