A new Harris Poll found that adult Internet users are now spending 13 hours online each week. People's usage varies greatly: 20% of adults are online for only 2 hours or less each week, while 14% are spending 24+ hours a week online.
Other key findings:
- The 30-39 age bracket spend the most time online at 18 hours, age 25-29 average 17 hours and 40-49 also clock in at 17 hours each week.
- 50% of all those online bought something on the net in the last month. This includes 62% of those aged 30-39 and 56% of those aged 40-49.
- The number of adults online, now 184 million (80%), has not changed significantly since 2008 and 2007. This includes those online at work, at home, at school or any other locations.
- However, the number of adults who are online at home has increased to 76% this year, and 75% last year, compared to 70% in 2006, and 66% in 2005.
The increase in the number of hours spent online in the last two years compared to all previous years is striking. It probably reflects a growing ability to use the Internet, an increase in sites and applications, increased TV watching online and increased purchasing online. Also, hours online may have increased because of the recession. Going online is free; going out usually costs money.
Over the years the average hours spent online have increased from 7
hours in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, to between 8 and 9 hours in 2003,
2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2007, it increased to 11 hours. Last year (in
October after the financial crisis broke and before the presidential
election) Internet users were online for 14 hours a week, double what
it was from 1999 to 2002.
The Harris Poll surveyed 2,029 adults by telephone between July 7 and 12 and October 13 and 18, 2009.
Photo: That's the old desk set up of Warner Records tech guru Ethan Kaplan. You can see his new set up here.
