Amanda Lenhart September 2000
The report finds that the explosive growth in Internet access will most likely slow, because most non-users do not intend to go online. The majority of adults without Internet access say they are likely to stay away from the Internet: 32% say they "definitely will not," and 25% say they "probably will not" venture online.
Why not:
 Concern about dangers online or protecting their privacy: 54%
They are not missing anything: 51%
The Internet is too expensive: 39%
The online world is confusing and hard to negotiate: 36%
The Age Factor
While younger people are more likely planning to get online than seniors, they are also more likely to drop out. Thirteen percent of those who are not online (about 12 million Americans) have used the Internet and dropped off. "Net Dropouts" are relatively young, tend to have less education than Internet users, and come from households with less income. The reasons for dropping out include: no longer have a computer (21%), job change (14%), too expensive (11%), not interesting or useful (9%), and worry about privacy (8%).
Categorizing Non-Internet Users
The report groups non-users into three groups: eagers, reluctants, and nevers.
The Eagers, 41%, plan to go get access. They tend to be under thirty-years old, and Hispanic or African-American. About 45% are male and 55% are female.
The Reluctants, 25%, will probably not go online. They are older, slightly more likely to be female (56%), and slightly more likely to be White (26% compared to 19% African American and 23% Hispanic). In terms of attitude, 60% don't think they are missing anything by not being online. They say the Internet is confusing, hard to use, and would be dangerous or too expensive.
The Nevers, 32%, will definitely never go online. Women make up 57% of the Never population, and 81% are over the age of 50. Eighty-two percent of this group have a high school diploma or less and 43% earn less than $30,000. Only 19% of Nevers felt that by not being online they are missing out on something. The report includes an overview of the digital divide, a summary of findings, and sections on the gray gap, rural areas, suburbs, connectedness and trust.
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