Comments on: Wired but not Web 2.0? That's normal, study says

Most American adults have a computer, a cell phone and Net access, but few use them as a public forum, according to a Pew survey.
Chart: What's your tech personality?

[jleemc44]

The point is?

This would be due to the fact that most so called ?Web 2.0? applications serve no real purpose in the daily activities of mature adults. Cell Phones, Laptops and Internet access however, do.

[InnocentBystander]

Privacy Anyone?

Excuse me for not putting my life on the web. I value my privacy more than to create a myspace profile and share everything with the world from family photos to my cell number.

Web 2.0 is not for me. Let's not even talk about the waste of time that it is. I'd rather enjoy the great outdoors.

IB

[anspn]

Adults are "value-users"

We have found that adults will adopt a service that delivers value - i.e. makes their life easy in some way. Its not just about Web 2.0 or user-generated content. Just hanging out online a la teens is obviously not appeal to this demographic segment.

We have parents on our site (www.schoolparent.net) who fit some of the groups in this study. Most of them are moms. Very hard to put them into the buckets (or quantify them) but we probably have Connector users, Lackluster veteran users, Productivity enhancer users, Mobile Centric users, Connected but hassled users, Inexperienced experimenter users.

[NoVista]

too diffuse

That's the interesting thing about social anthropology. Reminds me of a University of Maryland professor I had, spoke 45 minutes to make the point that "monkeys don't talk because they have nothing to say". I wished he'd been a monkey.

As for such studies, focus would be more useful. I'd certainly be interested in an in-depth examination of blogging, particularly in the political area.

I wonder where these experts would place me in their chart ... in my 71st year, male, six digital cameras, cell phone I've never used [it was my late wife's], GPS for boat, online for over 20 years, heavy IRC user for three years, no IM etc., Interest best for research, writer, retired engineer, produced one commercial multimedia project a few years ago.

[hrowe]

Interesting

I actually was surprised at some of the numbers. I thought that there would be a larger percent of people who had a desktop/laptop and used the internet for web 2.0. It really put things into perspective. I understand the thought another commenter had about the fact that of course less people are using web 2.0 because it is not making their life faster and easier. The thing is, a lot of people are using it to make their life easier but using it for professional development and a meeting place for great discussions. They are also using it to get themselves out there and as a networking tool. I think as soon as people realize the benefit that does come from this, more will be participating.

Alice- if you are reading this, I posted by first reply to one of these articles on my own blog.