Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00438)

Doss wrote:

>America's online: 70.5 million adults
>
>More than a third of adults in the USA are online.
>That means 70.5 million (34.9%) of the 202 million U.S. adults use the
>Internet, says a survey by Nielsen Media Research and CommerceNet,
>out Tuesday.

The problem still remains that most people on the Internet are still male,
have higher incomes, and lean toward conservatism.  The Net is not balanced
(reflective of the population) by any means yet, as minorites, the elderly,
and low-income people still lack the tools and means to access the
Internet.  That remains a serious problem for they are really the ones who
need information the most.  I have also noticed that the Internet itself is
becoming much more complicated in the ways to access information - fancier
programs and, worse, companies and organizations that used to offer free
information are now charging for it.  In addition, web sites that offer
information are also requiring that people get the latest up-to-date
plug-ins in order to access their offerings, plug-ins which require more
memory and more expensive computers in which to utilize such plug-ins.  My
own university professors now require documented Internet references when
writing papers, consequently, I have seen many students - mainly
lower-income - who must spend more time away from home and in the computer
lab at school doing their homework - a definite disadvantage for single
mothers and other people who cannot afford child care.

Yes, the Internet is a fantastic resource, but it still remains elusive and
intrusive in many people's lives.

Kym