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 20% of American Households Have Never Sent Email
According to a study by Parks Associates, a significant amount of Americans are not embracing technology; One-fifth of Americans have never sent an email, 30 per cent have never created a document on a PC and 21 per cent have never used the Web.
Digital Journal -- An annual phone survey of U.S. households has revealed 20 million homes, or 18 per cent of all American homes, lack Internet access. Furthermore, about 20 per cent have heads-of-household who have never sent an email.
“Nearly one out of three household heads has never used a computer to create a document,” said John Barrett, director of research with Parks Associates. “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.”
And in case you want to stereotype age or education as factors, here is your fodder: The study reports 50 per cent of those who have never used email are older than 65 and 56 per cent had no education beyond high school.
  Vote it up! Internet Trends A graph from a National Technology Scan, a forthcoming study from Parks Associates, shows trends in Internet use. Courtesy Parks Associates (All Rights Reserved)
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The study has noted an increase in the number of houses getting connected compared to findings in previous years, but notes that only 7 per cent of the 20 million Internet-less homes plan to get a connection in the next year.
National Technology Scan, the forthcoming study from Parks Associates, said as much as 29 per cent of Americans (31 million homes) lived in disconnected homes in 2006 because they believed the Internet did not offer much value.
“Internet connections have slowly increased in U.S. households, but getting the disconnected minority online will continue to be difficult,” Barrett said. “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.”
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"Internet connections have slowly increased in U.S. households, but getting the disconnected minority online will continue to be difficult,”
There seems to be an assumption that everybody should get connected, and that these figures represent a problem to be solved. Is it inconceivable that some people truly have no need for or interest in computers and the internet? Cell phones are pretty much ubiquitous these days, but many people, like me, have no need for one, and have no plans for ever getting one. There are writers who prefer to use a typewriter, and many other people who make personal decisions about their use of technology, and their choices don't always follow the norm.
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Can I ask where you got this data from? I am asking this question because in the article and in the visual it say 20% of American households and your headline says 20% of Americans. One of those statements is wrong.
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@ Carolyn E. Price (gohomelaker)
Can I ask where you got this data from? I am asking this question because in the article and in the visual it say 20% of American households and your headline says 20% of Americans. One of those statements is wrong.
Thanks Carolyn -- I've updated the headline. The report was published here. -
I think this figure will reduce in time, now many are beginning to use computers and the internet. Almost every library has computers, so this will improve. If they had done a survey 10 or 15 years ago, there would have been a higher figure.
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Thanks Chris. When you look at the numbers, they are saying around 20 million Americans, or about 5 or 6% of the population.
I don't find it all that surprising that only 7% are "planning" on getting connected in the next year, as I believe year-over-year the link says it was 29% at the end of 2006 and that it's dropped to 18% at the end of 2007. In light of the economic times we are in (with all the doom and gloom about people losing homes, etc. I think the last thing on their minds would be getting internet access) and a simple Bell curve. As you near the end of a trend, getting those last few hold outs to grab hold of the brass ring gets harder and the curve will always show a gradual run-off.
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@ Carolyn E. Price (gohomelaker)
Thanks Chris. When you look at the numbers, they are saying around 20 million Americans, or about 5 or 6% of the population.
I don't find it all that surprising that only 7% are "planning" on getting connected in the next year, as I believe year-over-year the link says it was 29% at the end of 2006 and that it's dropped to 18% at the end of 2007. In light of the economic times we are in (with all the doom and gloom about people losing homes, etc. I think the last thing on their minds would be getting internet access) and a simple Bell curve. As you near the end of a trend, getting those last few hold outs to grab hold of the brass ring gets harder and the curve will always show a gradual run-off.
No argument there. -
this isn't unbelievable completely. I find it refreshing to some degree. :)
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@ Nikki W (karateblossom)
this isn't unbelievable completely. I find it refreshing to some degree. :)
In agreement, because it's always nice to know email culture hasn't completely overrun everyone's lives. The Luddite lifestyle shouldn't be attacked for being backwards; it's just that some people want to reject progress and hyper-active technology, preferring a simpler way of going about their day. -
@ David Silverberg
In agreement, because it's always nice to know email culture hasn't completely overrun everyone's lives. The Luddite lifestyle shouldn't be attacked for being backwards; it's just that some people want to reject progress and hyper-active technology, preferring a simpler way of going about their day.
Does rejecting some forms of technology really make a person a Luddite? That term is thrown around way too much. I grabbed onto computers as soon as they became useful and affordable, and the internet is basically the center of my life. I have a growing DVD collection, and the only reason I haven't bought a high def television already is that I can't afford it. But I don't have a cell phone, an iPod, or cable TV. Luddite, or just able to define my own needs?
You say that rejection of some technologies shouldn't be attacked, but isn't calling it a rejection of progress an attack? Some technologies simplify life; some make it more complicated, and almost all of them make it more expensive. Progress is in the eye of the beholder. -
i guess like any medium, there are will always be a percentage who prefer not to use something - many people don't listen to the radio and there are still some who don't own a TV... I guess the Web may be no different....
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David-yes, I too am glad it hasn't overrun everyones lives! :o)
We are the laughing stock of our world, running on a 7+ yo dell and that is the pinnacle of tech for this home!
Had it not been for my husband's never ending desire to have some appendage in contact, I wouldn't have a smartphone. His idea because I hate it...lol.
It took me until 2003 to get a cell phone! We text-but rarely talk on it.
My granny(80+) has email but it is basic-because my mother who has high def everything had extra puters and wanted granny to email her.
I adore simplicity and it is always nice to see those who haven't been taken in by convenience.
Living in remote city, usa but being raised in big city, I'm a cheerleader for low stress simplicity where I spend time with my neighbors, know everyone wherever I go and leave my phone at home-0 connections.
Heck, our favourite buds have the best garden ever, make all their own dressings, relishes, krauts and honey (have their own hive). No time for email between churning and hanging laundry! lol
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I just realized that I am 33 and haven't written and mailed a letter since grade school. I think it is very foreseeable in the near future that it will only be a small percentage of people that have ever physically mailed a personal letter.
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I just sent out birthday invites, does that count? lol
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