Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 08:55:34 -0600

http://www.cpb.org/ed/resources/connected

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Almost two-thirds of American children between the ages of 2 and 17 logged onto the Internet during 2002, and the biggest gain - a 205 percent increase - occurred among African-American children, according to Connected to the Future, a new report from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

However, the report also shows that these increases have not erased the historical disparities between under-served and more advantaged children regarding Internet access. For example, 66 percent of children from high-income families use the Internet at home, compared to 49 percent of children from middle-income households, and only 29 percent of children from low-income homes.

"This study shows that the Internet is fast becoming an ubiquitous tool for a growing number of American families," said Robert T. Coonrod, CPB president and CEO. "Kids are using it in unprecedented numbers, and parents believe it is valuable to their children's learning."

The report is based on data obtained from four interrelated phone and online surveys, developed by technology market research firm Grunwald Associates and conducted mid-2002, with thousands of children ages 6 to 17 and parents of children ages 2 to 17. It was underwritten with support from the BellSouth Corporation, Educational Testing Service, and Kodak.

According to the study, parents play an important role in their children's use of the Internet, with a majority of parents of children ages 2 to 17 and children ages 6 to 17 agreeing that parents have knowledge of and influence over children's online activities. To a striking extent (86 percent), parents' perception of their role is as a guide to good Internet content rather than as a watchdog over their children's use.

The report shows that an overwhelming majority of parents (83 percent) are satisfied with their children's online use, with 81 percent claiming that it is valuable to their children's learning. Children ages 6 to 17 who use the Internet at home cite learning-related activities among their top five everyday uses of the Internet.

Said Mary Boehm, president of BellSouth Foundation: "Technology has the power to transform children's lives and make learning more active, more relevant and more powerful. This report is an important indicator of the value technology plays in the learning experience. We should all be committed to helping children fully harness the power of technology for interactive learning and communicating."

The comprehensive study looks at children's Internet use from home, school, and other locations such as libraries. Its findings on children's Internet access from any location include:

* Low-income children's access underwent a 96 percent growth increase, from 28 percent in 2000 to 55 percent in 2002 * 58 percent of African-American children now use the Internet from some location, compared to 19 percent in 2000 * 50 percent of Hispanic children now use the Internet from some location.

However, when the report looks at Internet use at home and school, it reveals disparities in access among children ages 2 to 17:

* 49 percent of Caucasian children use the Internet at home, compared to only 29 percent of African-American children, and 33 percent of Hispanic children
* Despite strong growth in school access from 2000 to 2002 for low-income (20 to 32 percent) and African-American (12 to 31 percent) children, their current school use still significantly lags behind high-income (47 percent) and Caucasian (38 percent) children.

The report also examines broadband access in the home. It shows that 37 percent of families who use the Internet at home have broadband access. These families have an average annual income of $72,000, and the report cautions that a new "digital divide" could develop between households with broadband access and those without.

"The results of this study are encouraging and worrisome," said Kurt Landgraf, president and CEO of Educational Testing Service. "It's encouraging because educational activities are among the top Internet uses for children. It's worrisome because it shows that the digital divide between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' has not yet closed, a trend that threatens our future success in a world where access to technology is key."

The study also found that digital media use among children ages 6 to 17 is now approaching parity with television viewing. According to the report, children spend 3.1 hours a day watching television and 2.9 hours a day using digital media such as the Internet, the computer for non-Internet activities, and video games. Teenagers actually spend more time each day with digital media (3.5 hours) than watching television (3.1 hours).

"It is clear from this landmark study that the Internet and digital media are ever-more important in children's lives," said Brian Marks, Vice President and General Manager of Consumer Digital Services for Kodak. "We need to ensure the widest access to resources such as imaging and other services for kids and parents."

A PDF version of the Connected to the Future report is available at http://www.cpb.org/ed/resources/connected

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About CPB
CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, develops educational public radio, television and online services for the American people. The Corporation is the industry's largest single source of funds for national public television and radio program development and production. CPB, a grant making organization, also funds more than 1,000 public radio and television stations. For more information, visit www.cpb.org.