Computers, Phones and the Internet: Domesticating Information Technology

Ch. 2. Portraits of American Internet Use: Findings from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. John B Horrigan.

ABSTRACT:
This chapter summarizes findings of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, with a focus on four areas in which the project has found that the Internet has had prominent impacts on American Life. These areas are: social connectedness, online health care information, community and civic engagement, and how Internet users shape online content. The findings are based on the surveys and reports of the Pew Internet Project since its inception in 2000. Though based mainly on self-reports on the nature of impacts, survey results suggest that the Internet has, for some users at least, improved how they manage their health care, fostered social connectedness, and improved how people get information about their communities, government, and political candidates. The Internet is also an outlet for creativity for some users as they post writing, artwork, or other content online.

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