Tech Adoption Trends Reports

 Americans’ Use of Internet, Broadband in 2026

The internet represents a fundamental shift in how Americans connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives. Explore the patterns, trends and statistics of internet and home broadband adoption in the United States. 97% adults use the Internet, but those with lower income levels and formal education are less likely to say they subscribe to a broadband service at home. Today, 16% of U.S. adults are “smartphone-only” internet users, meaning they own a smartphone but do not subscribe to a home broadband service.

Americans’ Use of Social Media in 2026

Today YouTube and Facebook are the most-widely used online platforms. Explore the demographic patterns and trends shaping the social media landscape. Usage of the major social media platforms varies by factors such as age, gender and level of formal education.

Americans’ Use of Mobile Devices in 2026

Americans today are increasingly connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones. Explore the latest patterns, trends and statistics that have shaped the mobile revolution. The vast majority of U.S. adults (98%) own a cellphone of some kind. About nine-in-ten (91%) own a smartphone, up from just 35% in the Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011--though some differences do emerge, particularly by age, household income and education.

Fact sheets: Technology adoption trends. Pew Research Center.

https://www.pewresearch.org/collections/tech-adoptions-trends/

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Library tech access study

 The American Library Association released a report last week underlining the role of libraries in expanding digital equity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries have played an increasingly central role in expanding access to emerging technology, as well as in digital literacy programming efforts with local partnership. This role was made even more important during the pandemic, when patrons were forced to adapt to jarring new realities. The report explores the efforts of libraries to understand and combat the digital divide. (from report abstract).

Bryne, A., & Visser, M. (2021). Keeping communities connected: Library broadband services during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2021). American Library Association.

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/telecom/broadband/Keeping_Communities_Connected_030722.pdf

Internet Connecting the Classrooms

According to a new analysis by the nonprofit broadband advocacy group EducationSuperHighway, more than 44 million students now learn in classrooms with high-speed internet connections, up from just 4 million five years ago. The group’s 2018 State of the States report says such “incredible progress” puts the U.S. on the cusp of providing broadband connections to nearly every public school in the country, the goal set by President Barack Obama in 2013. The report states that the median bandwidth delivered by districts meeting the FCC's minimum connectivity target has continued to grow, showing schools' desire to continually expand their internet usage.

EducationSuperhighway (2018). 2018 State of the states: Expanding digital learning to every classroom, every day. San Francisco, CA: EducationSuperhighway. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/esh-sots-pdfs/2018%20State%20of%20the%20States.pdf

Digital Divide in K-12

In this report by Education Superhighway, findings show that in 2013, the nation made a promise to close the K-12 digital divide and level the playing field for children throughout America. In the past four years, unparalleled bipartisan action has led to exceptional progress toward fulfilling this promise by connecting an additional 35.2 million of our students. State and school district leaders, who have brought high-speed connectivity to 8,379 school districts. Service providers, who have dramatically improved the affordability of broadband. In 2017, the progress made possible by E-rate modernization continued, reducing the number of students without high-speed Internet access by 5.1 million and the number of schools without 21st-century broadband infrastructure by 45%, thereby setting the stage for the nation to deliver on our promise of digital equity by 2020.

Education Superhighway (2017). 2017 State of the states: Fulfilling our promise to America’s students. San Francisco, CA: Education Superhighway. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/esh-sots-pdfs/educationsuperhighway_2017_state_of_the_states.pdf

Librarians' impact briefs

Three briefs from the American Library Association illustrate librarians' impact on communities, especially in terms of entrepreneurship, service to veterans, and broadband adoption and use.
   ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. (2016). One small business at a time. Washington, DC: Author. http://bit.ly/2fyDaQQ
   ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. (2016). Libraries help adn hour our veterans. Washington, DC: Author.  http://bit.ly/2fyDaQQ

   ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. (2016). America's libraries: Powering broadband access, adoption, and use. Washington, DC: Author.  http://bit.ly/2fyDaQQ