Cell Phone and Wireless Internet use is Rising

Earlier this week, Pew Internet and American Life released their Mobile Access 2010 Report.   The report found that overall adult Americans have increased their use of wireless internet and have diversified how they use their cell phones over the past year. 

According to the report, 59% of adult Americans access the internet wirelessly and 40% of adult Americans use at least internet, email, or instant messaging over their cell phones.

Consistent with last year’s findings, African-Americans and Latinos continue to own cell phones at a greater percentage than their white counterparts.  Not only are ownership rates higher but they also take advantage of a wider array of data applications and non-voice activities on their cell phones.  African-American and Latino wireless internet users also have a higher percentage of individuals that only access the internet over their cell phones.  

For more information, click here to read the report.

I happened to read this report on my phone while I rode the bus to work and thought about how it relates to my own experience and observations of my family.  Having a large Latino family in California’s Central Valley, I have a tendency to relate a lot of what I read about Latino technology use and access to them.  It always surprises me a little how consistent my family is with most of the research that I come across, including this report.

Personally, I fit the typical majority of millenials and consume as much technology as possible.  I almost strictly access internet wirelessly and I have my smart phone -- which I need to upgrade asap because it has finally been two years since my last upgrade!

My uncle made the smart phone move this past year and quickly adopted all of its additional capabilities from accessing the web to downloading a multitude of applications.  He has not had internet service in his home in many years so this the only way that he accesses the internet. 

In my mother’s group of three close friends, the other two are non-hispanic White, she is the most comfortable with mobile technologies.  She was the first to own a cell phone and uses it for a greater range of activities.  She has also been interested in upgrading to a smart phone this year (meaning hours of my time training her so I'm not quite sure if I'm ready, sorry mom).

I am already wondering how the data will change a year from now, as this information is extremely useful as we continue to work on closing the digital divide.  Until then, I will keep observing my family and see what changes they make.