One in five American adults never log on, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. People who fall into this group are senior citizens, adults with less than a high school education, individuals living with disabilities and those in households earning less than $30,000 per year. (People who chose to take the survey in Spanish were also more likely to be disconnected from the web.) Most of these adults have never used the Internet before, nor do they live with anyone who has. They don't use computers, smartphones or tablets, either.
While high-speed broadband access is a problem for some — an issue the Obama administration and nonprofit groups have targeted — almost half of those who don't use the Internet said it was because they don't think it is relevant. An only one in 10 said that they were interested in using the Internet or email in the future.
It's not just retirees and the economically disadvantaged who shun the Internet. In an interview with Elle magazine, actress Winona Ryder said she doesn't go online, though she does use email functions on her BlackBerry. She's never read a blog.