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Use of the Internet and Smartphones is No Longer on the Rise in America (qz.com)

For years, the number of Americans who have reported using the internet, social media, and smartphones has been on a meteoric rise. But that rate has slowed to a near-stall. From a report: New data published this week by the Pew Research Center show that, since 2016, that number has plateaued, indicating those technologies have reached a saturation point among many groups of people. The percentage of Americans using smartphones (77%), the internet (88% to 89%), and social media (69%) has remained virtually unchanged during the last two years. "Put simply, in some instances there just aren't many non-users left," the report states.

More than 90% of adults younger than 50 report they use the internet or own a smartphone. This number squares with some of the trends noticed earlier this year by Gartner, a global research firm. The fourth quarter of 2017 marked the first time since 2004 that the market for smartphones declined globally compared to the prior year. People are less frequently buying new phones.

4 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. America has passed the point of peak literacy by OrangeTide · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's pretty simple. We won't see any improvement in smart phone and computer usage without advances in technology that cater to the needs of an increasingly illiterate or sub-literate population.

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    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  2. Re:Or we could fix our education system by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Sure. All for it. First, get rid of Betsy deVos and get someone in there that believes in quality public education for all, not just rich white christian kids.

  3. Re:Or we could fix our education system by dcw3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe you should point out where we've had quality public education before instead of blaming someone for wanting to try something different. I bet you weren't complaining about the shitty public schools before she came along, and if you don't believe they were shitty then there's no helping you.

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    Just another day in Paradise
  4. Re:Or we could fix our education system by Hasaf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But that same reasoning holds that we can afford massive tax cuts for the wealthiest of its citizen. These tax cuts are limiting our ability to deal with future crises.