‘We the People’: Five Years of Online Petitions
Americans used President Obama’s “We the People” online petitioning system to address health care, veterans’ issues and illnesses among other issues. But the impact of petitions was modest and varied.
Online Shopping and E-Commerce
New technologies are impacting a wide range of Americans’ commercial behaviors, from the way they evaluate products and services to the way they pay for the things they buy.
Information Overload
Most Americans like their choices in today’s information-saturated world. But 20% feel overloaded, and there are stresses for those with fewer pathways to the internet or who feel they are expected to do too much information gathering.
Gig Work, Online Selling and Home Sharing
24% of Americans report earning money from the digital ‘platform economy’ in the past year. The extra income they make is a luxury for some, but a necessity for others.
Social Media Update 2016
The share of Americans who use Facebook is on the rise: 79% of online adults use the platform, more than double the share that uses Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram or LinkedIn.
The Political Environment on Social Media
Some Americans enjoy the opportunities for political debate and engagement that social media facilitates, but many more express resignation, frustration over the tone and content of social platforms.
Digital Readiness Gaps
Americans fall along a spectrum of preparedness when it comes to using tech tools to pursue learning online, and many are not eager or ready to take the plunge
Libraries 2016
Trends in visiting public libraries have steadied, and many Americans have high expectations for what their local libraries should offer
Book Reading 2016
A growing share of Americans are reading e-books on tablets and smartphones rather than dedicated e-readers, but print books remain much more popular than books in digital formats
Social Media Conversations About Race
How social media users see, share and discuss race and the rise of hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter
