How Internet Email Usage has Changed Over the Past 5 Years

How Internet Usage Has Changed in Five Years

The release of the World Wide Web to the public in 1994 brought sweeping changes to the way the world communicates , conducts business works and plays . Widespread use of the Internet has opened the doors to innumerable possibilities for instantaneous exchange of communication globally , offering Internet users nearly unlimited access to information on a 24-hour basis . While basic usage of the Internet has not changed much in terms of using the medium for homework , research and news , some new and innovative programs have launched

themselves and brought with them their own changes

In a study published by IT Society Magazine , 43 of American households are connected to the Internet . Add that percentage to Internet access at work , 55 of Americans over 18 were connected ' in 2002 (p . 136 . In this study , it was found that people who have a higher frequency of Internet time per week are less likely to watch television The impact of Internet usage is already being seen in the mass media industry as Internet users are turning to their computers for information and entertainment

It has been thought that use of the Internet in business would accelerate the speed and efficiency of workers who use it for business possibly increasing levels of productivity within the work day , leaving more time for leisure . However , one rather startling discovery by the survey in IT Society was that of Internet users who worked full time 16 reported using the Internet for work while at home , without cutting back time at the office . While this could be interpreted as good because of workers not having to stay after hours at the office , it does imply that people are working more hours but without a pay raise due to Internet access (p . 138

A study conducted by USC Annenberg 's Center For the Digital Future in 2004 showed an increase of online usage to about 75 . Hours of usage per week had risen to an average of 12 .5 hours . Lower television viewing among Internet users was also seen in this study , raising the question of what society will be like when it transitions from spending inactive time in front of the television to more interactive time on the Internet

Another issue , that of demographics , was addressed in the above study the digital ' divide is closing amongst ethnic and age groups the fastest growing Internet using population is now amongst Latinos African Americans , and older Americans . This really comes as no surprise , due to the rise in free instant messaging services such as AOL Instant Messenger , Yahoo ! Messenger and MSN Messenger . A visit to a library or an Internet cafy can connect an individual to friends and family who also have Internet access anywhere in the world , without worrying about a long-distance telephone bill

Instant messaging has become one of the most popular modes of communication for young people conversations can take place with multiple users at a time , enabling chat with several...