From the Blog Post:

Americans are increasing their overall media consumption, and media multi-tasking is part of the equation, according to new data from The Nielsen Company’s most recent Three Screen Report. During 2nd Quarter 2009, the number of people watching mobile video increased 70% from last year and people who watch video online increased their viewing by 46% compared to a year ago. In addition, the average American TV consumption remains at an all-time high (141 hours per month) compared to the same time frame last year.

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“Online usage is relatively flat since last year, though more people are viewing video online than ever before. Certain age groups also view online video more than others do – Adults 18-24 watch more than 5 hrs each month vs. Adults 65+ watching just over 1 hr of online video.

Short form video (such as YouTube clips) still makes up the lion’s share of online video viewing – 83% in May 09 – while name-brand TV network content comprises the majority of mobile video viewing.

Younger demographics aren’t using the Internet as much as older demographics, yet the growth rate of kids 2-11 online clearly outpaces the overall Internet penetration. The number of kids online has increased 18% compared to 10% growth for the total active Internet universe (P2+).

Mobile video viewing continues its upward trend, with over 15 million Americans reporting watching mobile video in Q2 2009. This is an increase of 70% versus last year – the largest annual growth to date.”

Access the Complete 3 Screen Report (PDF)

Source: Nielsen

From a Blog Post:

In May 2009, children aged 2-11 comprised nearly 16 million, or 9.5 percent, of the active online universe according to Nielsen Online. Since 2004, the number of kids online has increased 18 percent, as compared to 10 percent for the total active universe, with a fairly even split between boys and girls. The growth of children online outpaces the overall growth of children in the U.S., where kids under 14 are projected to decrease by 1 percent from 2004 to 2010 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, from 7/04 – 7/10 projection).

Source: Nielsen Online

From the Announcement:

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that 62 percent of households reported using Internet access in the home in 2007, an increase from 18 percent in 1997, the first year the bureau collected data on Internet use.

Sixty-four percent of individuals 18 and over used the Internet from any location in 2007, while only 22 percent did so in 1997.

Among households using the Internet in 2007, 82 percent reported using a high-speed connection, and 17 percent used a dial-up connection.

“As access to high speed connections have become more prevalent, so too have the number of people that connect to the Internet at home,” said Thom File, a statistician with the Census Bureau Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. “These data give us a better understanding of who is using the Internet and from where.”

Among the states, Alaska and New Hampshire residents had among the highest rates of Internet use from any location (home, work or public access) for those 3 and older in 2007. Mississippi and West Virginia had among the lowest rates of Internet use at about 52 percent.

Internet usage also varied by education. For individuals 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree, 87 percent reported going online from any location in 2007. For those with only some college, 74 percent reported using the Internet. About half (49 percent) of those with only a high school diploma reported using the Internet, compared with 19 percent for those without a high school diploma.

Internet usage also varied by race; 69 percent of whites lived in households with Internet use, while the same was true for 51 percent of blacks, 73 percent of Asians and 48 percent of Hispanics.

When looking at age groups, the percentage of 18- to 34-year-olds who accessed the Internet was more than double (73 percent) that of people 65 and older (35 percent). Among children 3 to 17, 56 percent used the Internet.

Direct to Detailed Tables

See Also: Households With a Computer and Internet Use: 1984 to 2007 (XLS File)

See Also: Review Past Reports

Source: U.S. Census

Highlights include:

+ Fifteen Years Online: Overall Internet Use in the United States — The percentage of Americans who use the Internet has reached 80 percent in the current Digital Future study.

+ Age and the Internet — Not surprisingly, Internet use increases as age decreases. The highest percentage of Internet use is among Americans under age 18. Even at higher age levels, large percentages of Americans use the Internet; for example, 40 percent of those age 66 and older go online — a level that has increased from 29 percent in 2000.

+ Hours per Week Online — The amount of time that Internet users spent online has grown in each year of the Digital Future studies, and has now surpassed an average of 17 hours per week.

+ Hours per Week Online: Light Users vs. Heavy Users — The Digital Future study found very large differences between the online hours of heavy users and light users. Light users spent an average of 2.8 hours per week online, compared to heavy users who average 42 hours a week online.

+ Working Computers in the Home — The percentage of homes with three or more continues to increase. Now, 24 percent of American households have at least three computers. Not surprisingly, the percentage of households with no computers continues to decline; in the current study only 15 percent of homes in America do not have a computer.

+ Internet Non-Users: Reasons for Not Being Online? — The most common reason for not using the Internet was “no interest” or “not useful” — cited by 30 percent of all non-users — the first time that explanation has been the most-cited reason. In second place, and close behind “lack of interest,” is “no computer” or “no Internet connection.”

+ Much More in the Highlights

Direct to Report Highlights (12 pages; PDF; Free) ||| Order the Complete Report

Source: USC Annenberg School