subject: Internet Users Do A Variety Of Things When Going Online [print this page] Depending on your income, your racial affiliation, and your income bracket, you will be more or less likely to use the internet in certain ways. Studies have shown that people in certain groups to have similar tendencies when it comes to what they do online as well as the type of connection that they have for surfing the net. The biggest percentage of reasons that people don't get online seems to indicate that cost is what holds them back. The cost though is very closely related to the perceived value of access.
One idea that dissects the belief that the internet and computers are too costly has to do with understanding the whole thing. In other words, if these same people that think the cost is not worth the access understood how much that they could benefit from the web, they would then change their minds about it. When something has a perceptible value then it is definitely worth more. That is a pretty clear view that education is the best way to get more people to use the net.
Many families with young (minor) children at home already understand that it is a necessity. Most of these will have a computer at home that the whole family can use. This adoption of computers into the household happens in families that are both within low and middle income households. It is the lower income internet users that will be most likely to use the web to find a job. This use of access is invaluable and can only do more to increase an understanding of the outside world.
Research has also been done to show that individuals with disabilities will go online for a short time but won't use the web as much as individuals who do not have disabilities. But this concept appears to be changing since there is more and more free information and help available on the web. Individuals who have disabilities tend to be the ones who know about free information and assistance for them when it comes to learning how to do new things. This is because these individuals are typically very familiar with the assistance that government programs can offer them in order to live more fulfilling lives.
In addition, residents of remote areas that don't have traditional cable or DSL Internet services available to them are also not quite as likely to have an Internet connection compared to residents of metro areas. The main reason for this is that these individuals are unaware of satellite Internet options in their areas. They are just as likely to use the web to take college classes or to shop for items as those in major cities. These rural residents tend to realize that having a good Internet connection gives them the same opportunities that city-dwellers enjoy.
