State of the Internet 2009: Pew Internet Project Findings and Implications for Libraries 10.02.09 Mary Madden Pew Internet & American Life Project Presented to: New York Library Council

More internet users = more stuff on cats

LOLCats speak up!

Cats on Twitter: 140 meows or less

social mobile

of each other (via Doc Searls)

Pew Internet: “Serving data since 1999”

Overall: 79% of adults online -up from 14% in 1995 -46% in 2000

Broadband = 63% Dial-up = 7% (April 2009)

Teens (12-17) ->up from 73% (2000) 93% online (2007)

Online activity pyramid: by generation The vast majority of online adults from all generations uses email and search engines. While there are always exceptions, older generations typically do not engage with the internet past e-commerce. The majority of teens and Gen Y use SNS, but fewer maintain blogs. Online adults older than Gen X are less likely to use SNS. Generations Online in 2009 Basic online entertainment (online videos, playing games) E-commerce (online shopping, banking, and travel reservations) Research and information gathering (product research, news, health and religious information searches) Email and search Active engagement with social media (visit SNS, create SNS profile, create blogs) More advanced online entertainment (download videos, music and podcasts) More advanced communication and passive social media use (instant messaging, visit SNS, read blogs)

Hype Wrangler: Reigning it in with data

Still stuck in the niches? Yes and no… Podcast Downloading : Grew from 7% in 2006 to 19% in 2008, but just 3% download podcasts on a typical day. Remains an early adopter profile of mostly young men Second Life and Virtual Worlds : Worth the investment? Depends on what you’re trying to do and who you’re trying to reach…NEW DATA: Just 4% of internet users have visited virtual worlds like Second Life. Twitter and status updating : 11% of online adults as of April 2009 and growing fast (NEW Sept. data TK). Now valued at $1BN. Many regard it as a sea-change technology moving search to the real-time Web.

Podcast Downloading :

Grew from 7% in 2006 to 19% in 2008, but just 3% download podcasts on a typical day. Remains an early adopter profile of mostly young men

Second Life and Virtual Worlds :

Worth the investment? Depends on what you’re trying to do and who you’re trying to reach…NEW DATA: Just 4% of internet users have visited virtual worlds like Second Life.

Twitter and status updating :

11% of online adults as of April 2009 and growing fast (NEW Sept. data TK). Now valued at $1BN. Many regard it as a sea-change technology moving search to the real-time Web.

Mobile access to the “cloud” 69% of online Americans have used “cloud computing” applications whose functionality is located on the web.

The Mobile Difference: Two Groups Stationary Media Majority 61% Motivated by Mobility 39%

56% of all Americans have accessed the internet by wireless means:  39% of all Americans have used a laptop computer to go online wirelessly.  32% of all Americans have gone online with a mobile device –a cell phone or other handheld device to check email, IM or access the internet for info.

56% of all Americans have accessed the internet by wireless means:

 39% of all Americans have used a laptop computer to go online wirelessly.

 32% of all Americans have gone online with a mobile device –a cell phone or other handheld device to check email, IM or access the internet for info.

*NEW DATA* As of September 2009, 3% of adults in the U.S. now own an e-book reader.

social mobile

More than ever, people will need: Trusted “curators of content” Help assessing the authority of info Guidance navigating copyright and privacy Non-commercial spaces—online and offline Like the internet, libraries should be “porous” and “everywhere” (via Paul Holdengraber)

Trusted “curators of content”

Help assessing the authority of info

Guidance navigating copyright and privacy

Non-commercial spaces—online and offline

Like the internet, libraries should be “porous” and “everywhere” (via Paul Holdengraber)

Thank you! Mary Madden Senior Research Specialist Pew Internet & American Life Project 1615 L Street NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 [email_address] 202-419-4500

Mary Madden

Senior Research Specialist

Pew Internet & American Life Project

1615 L Street NW

Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

[email_address]

202-419-4500