The UCLA Center for Communication Policy is embarking on a long-term research project in order to understand the influence of the Internet on international social, political, cultural, and economic developments. The Center reasons that the Internet is likely to be the most important technological development of our generation and by beginning now, it will be possible to monitor and understand the Internet’s influences as they occur. The Center points to television as an example of an important technology that has been mostly studied retrospectively. If the influences of the Internet are understood as they emerge, these trends and the related causes can be considered by policy makerThe UCLA Center is studying Internet use by interviewing several thousand individuals who use and do not use the Internet. The basic strategy is to follow these individuals for as long as possible in order to understand:

• the activities of Internet users
• factors that different Internet users and nonusers
• changes that occur as nonusers become users

The first report from the Internet Project was released in late 2000 and provides some interesting insights into the behavior and beliefs of U.S. citizens. While this is not a study of the academic use of technology, the study provides should provide educators a better understanding of:

• the technology skills important in the general population
• differences in the experiences and opportunities of their students

Here are some of the findings you may find relevant and impressive.

1. Use of the Internet

Sixty-seven percent of the sample reported using the Internet and 47% had access at home.

Both level of education and income were related to the use of the Internet. However, the researchers felt it was important to understand that many individuals with less than a college education and from lower income families do use the Internet.

In general, males are slightly more likely to use the Internet. Interesting deviations from this generality include:

• the significantly greater use by younger (12-15) women (91% vs. 77%)
• the large differences in use between older (55+) males and females (62% vs. 43%)

If connection time is used as the dependent measure, the age at which the Internet is used most heavily may surprise you. Users in the 25-35 age range report being online for more than 11 hours a week.

Experienced users focus on different activities. Long-time users are online at work and at home and use the Internet as a news source and for making investments. New users are more likely to focus on games and hobbies.

2. Access

The study sought to determine where users connected most frequently. Educators might want to note that for users under 18, 38% listed home as the primary access point and only 19% listed school as the primary access point.

3. Online Activity

Time on the Internet can be substantial. Those who are considered long-time users (users for 4+ years) spend over 16 hours online per week. To determine if Internet use was substituted for other activities, the study asked users and nonusers to report the time spent on other activities (talking on the phone, reading, TV, etc.). The only significant area differentiating the groups was the time watching television – Internet users watch less television.

E-mail and web browsing are the most common Internet activities. The study determined that 76% of users check their e-mail at least once a day. Generalizing to the total population, the study estimates that 42% of U.S. citizens check their e-mail daily.

Privacy was listed as the biggest concern related to Internet use. Users do not feel that Internet use has limited their interaction with others and many indicate that the Internet can facilitate friendships and family relationships.

More than 50% of Internet users shop online. For those who make online purchases, the average spent per month is $113. Online shopping is strongly related to Internet experience.

Source: UCLA Center for Communication Policy (2000). The UCLA Internet Report: Surveying the digital future.