Survey: One-fifth of Americans have never used e-mail

The digital divide is apparently alive and well.

About 20 percent of all U.S. heads-of-household have never sent an e-mail, and about 20 million households, or 18 percent, are without Internet access, according to a study released earlier this week.

(Credit: Parks Associates)

Similar percentages of respondents also indicated that they had never looked up a Web site or information on the Internet, the survey found.

Age and education were significant factors cited in the study, which was conducted by researcher Parks Associates. Half of those who have never used e-mail are older than 65 and 56 percent had no formal education beyond a high school level, the telephone survey found.

"Nearly one out of three household heads has never used a computer to create a document," John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates, said in a statement. "These data underscore the significant digital divide between the connected majority and the homes in the unconnected minority that rarely, if ever, use a computer."

Just 7 percent of the 20 million households without Internet access indicated during the survey that they plan to subscribe to an Internet service within the next 12 months. However, the study noted a steady decline in the number of disconnected households when comparing findings with previous years; the 2006 survey found that 31 million households, or 29 percent, of all U.S. households were without Internet access.

"Internet connections have slowly increased in U.S. households, but getting the disconnected minority online will continue to be difficult," Barrett said in the statement. "Age and economics are important factors, but the heart of the challenge is deeper. Many people just don't see a reason to use computers and do not associate technology with the needs and demands of their daily lives."

[terminalblue]

thats pretty much all th old people.

[cheshirkat]

Well, the Internet does not physically (infrastructure) reach all Americans. Many Americans have had to make hard choices recently, and may have chosen to spend their limited resources on housing, food, and GASOLINE.

[Stefaninafla]

While this does reflect the fact that most older people just don't consider the internet important, it also shows the results of the economic divide where many people just can't afford internet access, or computers. After all, food and shelter come first.

[gary85739]

its so confusing...btw, it has nothing to do with senior citizens! it's mostly a financial decision..you know, food instead of internet,etc,etc,etc...

[amandachuck]

sure it does. seniors make up a large part of the population, and most do not have internet, though that is changing as boomers get older.

[gary85739]

stats can be used like smoke n mirrors depending on your point of view.

probably have a similar stat of those that don't have cable TV,etc...

[forensicmeteoboy]

...what are you trying to get at? Do you think these stats are over-estimating these numbers?

[rmva]

From the PC World article: "A recent phone survey of U.S. households by Parks found 20 million households are without Internet access, approximately 18 percent of all U.S. households."

A phone survey means the survey was only able to reach households with wire-line service. Households with cell-only service are not included. So 18% is not accurate because cell-only households are more likely to be tech savvy and more likely to use PCs at a higher rate.

[Mehere1]

...and, half the world's population never even made a phone call though, mobile coverage is about 80%. Wealth is distributed very unevenly.

[Tony McCune]

This really serves to illustrate the digital divide. Of those who are digitally connected, most are moving to higher speed connections. On our video training site (http://www.digitalchalk.com) less than 3% are still on dial-up. It seems like technology adoption is a decision and some will choose to stay discounted.

[katznaperr]

So what's wrong with not being connected to the internet? A telephone, a newspaper, a book of stamps, a library card and maybe some dirty magazines accomplishes pretty much what the majority of people use it for for anyway. Sure it is convenient but not indispensable.

[robh1951]

One in 5 Americans don't use email BUT one in a million sends (rather more than) enough spam to make up for them.

[cisasteelersfan]

cheshirkat, you are SO RIGHT!!!

[anthonykuhn]

We were able to eventually get landline penetration to every market in America through a surcharge, so why can't we get high-speed, by which I mean more than 256kbs some companies are calling 'high speed' to all Americans. Lack of Internet connectivity is certainly hurting us on the world economic stage...

[Moortra]

It is a big financial problem now with every thing costing an arm and a leg. In todays world its getting harder and harder to support a family or even a single lifestyle.I really envy those people though because there the lucky ones who haven't got sucked into the whole cyber world.

[candymarl]

I have friends who can't afford to go online. Money is definitely an issue.