Pew: More than 60 Million People Use Internet for Political Purposes

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/18/2007 10:11:51 PM

Wow, this study is striking.  Key findings:

*"The number of Americans using the internet as their main source of political news doubled since the last mid-term election."

*"31% of Americans - more than 60 million people - used the internet for political purposes in campaign 2006."

*"A new online political elite is emerging as 23% of campaign internet users became online political activists."

*The younger you are, the more you get your political news from the internet.  Under 36, it's 35%.  Between 36 and 50, it's 22%.  Over 51, it's 17%.

*"Campaign internet users took advantage of online political resources in many ways, but most commonly checked candidates' positions on the issues."

*"The online political activist cohort is socially upscale and techembracing."
*"Voters aren't always looking for information that supports their point of view. Many seek contrary material."

*"The American news mediascape is in flux" but "[t]elevision still wins the political news horserace - by a wide margin."

*Campaign internet users are disproportionately well educated, with 49% having a college degree (or more) and 26% having "some college."  In other words, 75% of campaign internet users have at least some college education.  This compares to about 27% of the overall population having a college degree and about 21% having "some college," for a total of 48% with some college.  (Side note: Kenton might be interested to know that only 4% of campaign internet users have less than a high school degree.  More proof that Kenton is amazing! :))


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