Internet is too Complicated and Irrelevant, Says 15% of U.S Adults

A new research reveals that 15 percent of the U.S adults are still not using the Internet or email.

A research team for Pew Internet Project teamed up with Princeton Survey Research Associates International to make phone interviews to 2,252 randomly-selected adults between April to May 2013. The participants were 18 years old and above.

The researchers consolidated the responses they had from the combined landline and mobile interviews in both English and Spanish languages. Overall, 15 percent of the participants does not use Internet or access their emails.

Based on their analysis, 34 percent does not use Internet because they find it irrelevant, uninteresting, and most of all, they just don’t have any reason to use it. Secondly, 32 percent consider accessing Internet too complicated to use so even if they would like to try it, they would rather not to. They are also worried about hackers. On the other hand, 19 percent of non-Internet users would probably want to try but find the cost of Internet connection expensive. A minor number of the participants, or seven percent, claimed that their area has no Internet network available.

The researchers mentioned that there may be a strong connection between Internet use and age, as well as education and household income. About 49 percent of those they have interviewed were 65 years old and above. The willingness to start using the Internet is quite small with eight percent of those who are currently offline willing to go online. The rest are really not interested.

While 85 percent of those who participated in the survey use the Internet, they have expressed varying opinions about their online experience. About 76 percent of them go online at home while nine percent have access but no Internet connection at home complaining that getting it too expensive and have cheaper options outside their home