Home Computer Access and Internet Use

Transcription

1 Home Computer Access and Internet Use Updated:

2 In 2013, almost six out of ten children, ages three to 17 (57 percent), used the Internet at home, nearly six times as many as in 1997 (11 percent). Seventy-nine percent had a computer at home, up from 15 percent in Importance Home access to computers and the Internet has expanded dramatically over the last two decades, and the ways children, youth, and adults use these tools are in rapid flux, as new technologies are developed. For example, Internet-enabled devices now include not only computers, but televisions, electronic books, and other handheld devices such as music players and cell-phones. Increasingly, the lines are blurred between computers and many other types of electronic media. Young people are most likely to use a computer for social networking, playing games, and watching videos. Ten percent report reading magazines or newspapers online. Among older youth (in grades seven through twelve), more than half (55 percent) have looked up online health information. 1 Research on the effects of home computer and Internet use on children is limited and often does not control for the presence of other potentially confounding factors. However, there is widespread concern that children may be exposed to sexually explicit, violent, and other ageinappropriate content on the Internet. Research, while inconclusive about the impact of nonviolent sexually explicit material, has consistently demonstrated that exposure to violent material (both sexual in nature and not) is associated with desensitization to violence, increased hostility and imitation of violent behaviors, and greater anxiety and fear among children and youth. 2 In addition, time spent with a computer may take the place of time spent exercising or being active, and may put children at risk for obesity, and eye, wrist, and back problems. 3 There is little evidence that having a computer at home improves student s academic performance, or narrows achievement gaps associated with race or socio-economic status. To the contrary, the available evidence suggests that widespread provision of home computers would have negative effects on academic achievement overall. 4 2

3 Trends The proportion of children with home access to computers increased steadily until 2012, from 15 percent in 1984 to 76 percent in 2003, to 85 percent in In addition, the percentage of children who use the Internet at home rose from 11 percent in 1997, the first year for which such estimates are available, to 42 percent in 2003, and to 62 percent in However, both computer ownership and Internet usage at home decreased in 2013, to 79 and 57 percent, respectively. (Figure 1) Figure Percentage of Children Ages 3 to 17 Who Have Access to a Computer at home and Who Use the Internet at Home, Selected Years, Home Computer Access Percent Home Internet Use Source: Data for 1984: Kominski, R. "C omputer Use in the United States:1984." Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No. 155, U.S. Department of C ommerce Economics and Statistics A dministration, U.S. C ensus Bureau, March Data for 1989: Kominski, R. "C omputer Use in the United States:1989." C urrent Population Reports, Series P -23, N o. 1 71, U.S. D epartment of C ommerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. C ensus Bureau, O ctober Data for 1993: "Computer Use in the United States: O ctober 1993" U.S. Department of C ommerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau,October Data for 1997: Newburger, E. C. "C omputer U se in the U nited States: 1997, P opulation Characteristics" C urrent P opulation Reports, P , U.S. Department of C ommerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. C ensus Bureau, O ctober Data for 2000: Newburger, E. C. "Home C omputers and Internet Use in the United States: Special Studies" C urrent P opulation Reports, P , U.S. Department of C ommerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. C ensus Bureau, A ugust Data for 2001: C hild Trends calculations of data from U.S. C ensus. "Computer and Internet Use in the United States, 2001." Tables 2 A and 4 A. Data for 2003: C hild Trends calculations using data from U.S. C ensus. "C omputer and Internet Use in the United States: October 2003." T ables 2 A and 4 A. ens us.gov/population/www/s oc demo/computer/2 003.html. D ata for :: C hild T rends' original analysis of O ctober C urrent Population Survey According to a 2009 survey of eight- to eighteen-year-olds, 36 percent have a computer in their bedroom, and nearly as many (33 percent) have Internet access there. Youth spend nearly an hour-and-a-half (outside of schoolwork) with a computer each day, up from just over one hour in

4 Differences by Race/ Hispanic Origin 6 White and Asian/Pacific Islander children are more likely to have access to a computer at home (87 and 91 percent, respectively, in 2013) than are black or Hispanic children (65 and 66 percent, respectively). White and Asian/Pacific Islander children are also more likely to use the Internet at home (64 and 62 percent, respectively) than are black or Hispanic children (48 and 47 percent, respectively). (Figure 2) Figure Percentage of Children Ages 3-17 Who Have Access to Computers and Use the Internet at Home, by Race and Hispanic Origin, Home Computer Access Home Internet Use Percent Non-Hispanic White Black Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Source: Child Trends' original analysis of the July 2013 Current Population Survey. Differences by Household Income Level In 2013, children s access to computers at home and their home Internet use was positively related to household income. At that time, 49 percent of children in households with incomes of less than $15,000 had access to a computer at home, compared with 94 percent of children in households with incomes of $75,000 or more. (Figure 3) Children s Internet use at home followed a similar pattern, ranging from 33 to 71 percent. (Appendix 2) 4

5 Figure Percentage of Children Ages 3 to 17 Who Have Access to Computers at Home, by Income Level, Percent Under $15,000 $15,000-19,999 $20,000-24,999 $25,000-34,999 $35,000-49,999 $50,000-74,999 $75,000+ Source: Child Trends' original analysis of the July 2013 Current Population Survey Differences by Parental Education There is a strong gradient by parents education attainment in children s home access to computers, and particularly in their Internet access. In 2013, 51 percent of children in homes where the householder did not have a high school education had access to a home computer, a significantly lower proportion than found in homes where the householder had a high school diploma (68 percent), had some college education (84 percent), or had a college degree or higher (94 percent). Internet access was reported by significantly fewer children with the least-educated householders (39 and 48 percent, respectively) than by those with parents in the two higher education groups (61 and 70 percent, respectively). (Figure 4) 5

6 Figure 4 Percentage of Children Ages 3-17 Who Have Access to Computers and Use the Internet at Home, by Parental Education, Home Computer Access Home Internet Use Percent Less than high school diploma High school diploma/ged Some college Bachelor's degree or more Source: Child Trends' original analysis of the July 2013 Current Population Survey. Differences by Age Home internet usage rises with increasing age. One in three children ages three to five years use the Internet at home, compared with 54 percent of six- to eleven-year-olds and 72 percent of twelve- to 17-year-olds. (Appendix 2) State and Local Estimates 2013 state estimates for children with computer and internet access at home are available at (Table 2) 6

7 International Estimates The World Economic Forum has issued a report which includes 2012 country-level data on the percentage of households with a personal computer and access to the Internet. Available at: www3.weforum.org/docs/global_it_report_2012.pdf (page 362) National Goals None. Related Indicators Watching Television: Definition Children who have access to a computer at home are defined as those living in a household with at least one computer. Some year-to-year changes in the data may be a result of changes in question wording. Between 1984 and 1997, this was any household that responded yes to the question: Is there a computer in this household? In 2000, the question was changed to: Is there a personal computer or laptop in this household? In 2001 and 2003, the question was Is there a computer or laptop in this household? In 2010, the question was: At home, do you or any member of this household own or use a desktop, laptop, netbook or notebook computer? In 2011 and 2012, the question was: How many desktop, laptop, netbook, notebook, and tablet computers are there in use in this household? In 2013, the question was changed to Does anyone in this household use a desktop, laptop, netbook or notebook computer, or a tablet computer such as an Apple ipad or Samsung Galaxy, at home? Children and youth who use the Internet at home are defined as those who answered yes to whether they access the Internet at home; question wording has changed slightly since Since 2011, the question has specifically referred to accessing the Internet at home using mobile devices. 7

8 Data Sources Data for : Child Trends' original analysis of the Current Population Survey. Income data for 2003: Day, J. C., Janus, A., and Davis, J. (2005). Computer and Internet use in the United States: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, All other data for 2003: Child Trends calculations using data from U.S. Census. Computer and Internet use in the United States: October Tables 2A and 4A. Data for income 2001: U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. (2002). A nation online: How Americans are expanding their use of the Internet. Table All other data for 2001: U.S. Census Bureau. (2001). Computer and Internet use in the United States. Table 2A and 4A. Data for 2000: Newburger, E. C. (2001). Home computers and Internet use in the United States: Special studies. Current Population Reports, P23-207, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. Table B. Data for 1997: Newburger, E. C. (1999). Computer use in the United States: 1997, population characteristics. Current Population Reports, P20-522, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. Detailed table 2. Data for 1993: U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. (1993). Computer use in the United States: October Table C. Data for 1989: Kominski, R. (1991). Computer use in the United States: Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No. 171, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. Detailed table

9 Data for 1984: Kominski, R. (1988). Computer use in the United States: Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No. 155, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. Detailed table 2. Raw Data Source U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey 9

10 Appendix 1 - Percentage of Children, Ages 3 to 17, who Have Access to Computers at Home: 1 Selected Years, Total Gender Male Female Age 3 to 5 years to 11 years to 17 years to 5 years to 9 years to 14 years to 17 years Race and Hispanic Origin White White, non-hispanic Black Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Asian

11 (computer at home) Householder's Education Less than high school diploma High school diploma/ged Some college Bachelor's degree or more Family Structure Family households Married-couple household Male householder Female householder Nonfamily household Household Income Under $25, Under $15, $15,000-19, $20,000-24, $25,000-$49, $25,000-34, $35,000-49, $50,000-74, $75,

12 (computer at home) Region Northeast Midwest South West Metropolitan Status Metropolitan Inside central city Outside central city Nonmetropolitan Wording of the question has changed slightly over time, and some year-to-year changes may be a result of changes in question wording. Between 1984 and 1997, the question was: Is there a computer in this household?. In 2000, the question was changed to: Is there a personal computer or laptop in this household?. In 2001 and 2003, the question was Is there a computer or laptop in this household?. In 2010, the question was: At home, do you or any member of this household own or use a desktop, laptop, netbook or notebook computer?. In 2011 and 2012, the question was: How many desktop, laptop, netbook, notebook, and tablet computers are there in use in this household?. In 2013, the question was changed to Does anyone in this household use a desktop, laptop, netbook or notebook computer, or a tablet computer such as an Apple ipad or Samsung Galaxy, at home?. 2 In most years, data were collected in October. However, in 2000, data were collected in August; in 2001, data were collected in September; and, in 2011 and 2013, data were collected in July. 3 Estimates for 1997 are for non-hispanic blacks only. Source: Data for 1984: Kominski, R. (1998). Computer use in the United States: 1984: Bureau of the Census. Data for 1989: Kominski, R. (1989). Computer use in the United States: 1989: Bureau of the Census. Data for 1993: Education and Social Stratification Branch. (1993). Use of computers at home and school by persons 3 to 17 years old: October Suitland, MD: Bureau of the Census. Data for 1997: Newburger, E. C. (1997) Computer use in the United States: 1997: Bureau of the Census. Data for 2000: Newburger, E. C. (2000) Computer use in the United States: Special studies: Bureau of the Census. Income data for 2001: Bureau of the Census. (2002). A nation online: how Americans are expanding their use of the Internet: Bureau of the 12

13 Census. All other data for 2001: Child Trends calculations using data from U.S. Census. Computer and Internet Use in the United States, 2001: Tables 2A and 4A. Income data for 2003: Day, J. C., Janus, A., and Davis, J. (2005) Computer and internet use in the United States: 2003: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports. Available at: All other data for 2003: Child Trends calculations using data from U.S. Census. "Computer and Internet Use in the United States: October 2003." Tables 2A and 4A. available at: Data for : Child Trends' original analysis of the Current Population Survey. 13

14 Appendix 2 Percentage of Children, Ages 3 to 17, who Use the Internet at Home: Selected Years, Total Gender Male Female Age 3 to 5 years to 11 years to 17 years to 5 years to 9 years to 14 years to 17 years Race and Hispanic Origin White White, non-hispanic Black Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Asian

15 (Internet at home) Householder's Education Less than high school diploma High school diploma/ged Some college Bachelor's degree or more Family Structure Family households Married-couple household Male householder Female householder Nonfamily household Household Income Under $25, Under $15, $15,000-19, $20,000-24, $25,000-$49, $25,000-34, $35,000-49, $50,000-74, $75,

16 (Internet at home) Region Northeast Midwest South West Metropolitan Status Metropolitan Inside central city Outside central city Nonmetropolitan In most years, data were collected in October. However, in 2000, data were collected in August; in 2001, data were collected in September; and, in 2011 and 2013, data were collected in July. 2 Estimates for 1997 are for non-hispanic blacks only. Source: Data for 1997: Newburger, E. C. (1997) Computer use in the United States: 1997: Bureau of the Census. Data for 2000: Newburger, E. C. (2000) Computer use in the United States: Special studies: Bureau of the Census. Income data for 2001: Bureau of the Census. (2002). A nation online: how Americans are expanding their use of the Internet: Bureau of the Census. All other data for 2001: Child Trends calculations using data from U.S. Census. Computer and Internet Use in the United States, 2001: Tables 2A and 4A. Income data for 2003: Day, J. C., Janus, A., and Davis, J. (2005) Computer and internet use in the United States: 2003: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports. Available at: All other data for 2003: Child Trends calculations using data from U.S. Census. "Computer and Internet Use in the United States: October 2003." Tables 2A and 4A. available at: Data for : Child Trends' original analysis of the Current Population Survey. 16

17 Endnotes 1 Rideout, V. J., Foehr, U. G., and Roberts, D. F. (2010). Generation M 2 : Media in the lives of 8- to 18-yearolds. Kaiser Family Foundation. Available at 2 National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. (2001). Non-technical strategies to reduce children s exposure to inappropriate material on the Internet: Summary of a Workshop. Board on Children, Youth, and Families and Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. Joah G. Iannotta, ed. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. 3 Shields, M. K., and Behrman, R. E. (Fall/Winter 2000). Children and computer technology: Analysis and recommendations. The Future of Children, 10(2): Available at: 4 See, for example, Clotfelter, C. T., Ladd, H. F., and Vigdor, J. L. (2008). Scaling the digital divide: Home computer technology and student achievement. Durham, NC: Duke University. Available at 5 Rideout, V. J. et al., op. cit. 6 Hispanics may be any race, though whites in this report refer to non-hispanic whites only. 17