ERIC Number: ED609171
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Apr-30
Pages: 24
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
53% of Americans Say the Internet Has Been Essential during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Americans with Lower Incomes Are Particularly Likely to Have Concerns Related to the Digital Divide and the Digital "Homework Gap"
Vogels, Emily; Perrin, Andrew; Rainie, Lee; Anderson, Monica
Pew Research Center
The coronavirus outbreak has driven many commercial and social activities online and for some the internet has become an ever more crucial link to those they love and the things they need. Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand how Americans think about the role of the internet and cellphones amid the pandemic. For this analysis, the Center surveyed 4,917 U.S. adults from April 7 to 12, 2020. Everyone who took part is a member of Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. Highlighted findings include: (1) The vast majority of Americans view the impact of the internet positively, and nearly nine-in-ten say it's been an essential or important tool during the coronavirus outbreak; (2) Roughly half of Americans with lower incomes are worried about paying their broadband and cellphone bills over the coming months; (3) Democrats are more inclined than Republicans to believe the government has a responsibility to ensure internet and mobile connectivity during this time; and (4) Americans mostly believe that K-12 schools should provide computers to at least some students during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, Internet, Computer Mediated Communication, Adults, Attitudes, Low Income Groups, Socioeconomic Influences, Political Influences, Government Role, Access to Computers, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Elementary Secondary Education, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Public Opinion
Pew Research Center. 1615 L Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-419-4500; Fax: 202-419-4505; Web site: http://pewresearch.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Pew Research Center
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A