Home Computer Access and Internet Use
View as PDF (Best for Printing)

Headline

In 2003, more than three out of four children (76 percent) ages 3 to 17 had access to a computer at home, up from 15 percent in 1984. Forty-two percent used the internet at home, nearly double the percentage (22 percent) who had used it in 1997. (See Figure 1)

Importance

Home access to computers and the internet has expanded dramatically over the last decade.¹ Common uses for the home computer by children and youth include educational programs, games, word processing, and access to the internet.² Activities common among teens also include reading or sending email, sending and receiving instant messages, shopping, getting news, and going to entertainment, music, or sports websites.³ In 2001, children ages 5 to 17 were most likely to use home computers to play games (59 percent of all children), but they also often used home computers for connecting to the internet (46 percent) and completing school assignments (44 percent). Among children who used the internet, the most common uses included school work (72 percent), email (65 percent), and playing games (62 percent).⁴

Research on the effects of home computer and internet use on children is limited and often does not control for other factors. Some research indicates that those with access to home computers perform somewhat better in mathematics and reading, though the benefit is larger for whites and those in higher socioeconomic groups.⁵ Similarly, another study of a computer-based after-school program found that program participants showed small improvements in mathematics and reading skills.⁶ However, there is widespread concern that children may be exposed to pornographic, violent, and other age inappropriate materials on the internet. Research, while inconclusive about the impact of nonviolent sexually explicit material, has consistently demonstrated that exposure to violent material (both sexual in nature and not) is associated with desensitization to violence, increased hostility and imitation of violent behaviors, and greater anxiety and fear among children and youth.⁷ Lastly, time in front of the computer may also take the place of time spent exercising or being active, and may put children at risk for obesity and eye, wrist, and back problems.⁸

> Back to Top

Trends

Since 1984, the percentage of children with home access to computers has steadily increased from 15 percent to 76 percent in 2003. In addition, the percentage of children who use the internet at home rose from 22 percent in 1997, the first year for which such estimates are available, to 42 percent in 2003. (See Figure 1)

Differences by Race and Ethnicity

Non-Hispanic white and Asian children are much more likely than black and Hispanic children to have access to a computer at home and about twice as likely to use the internet at home. (See Figure 2)

Differences by Household Income Level

As household income rises, so does children's access to computers at home and home internet use. In 2003, 43 percent of children in households with an income of less than $15,000 had access to a computer at home, compared with 96 percent of children in households with an income of over $75,000. Children's internet use at home follows a similar pattern, ranging from 17 percent to 63 percent. (See Figure 3)

Differences by Parental Education Level

As householder education increases, so does children's access to computers and use of the internet at home. For example, children in homes where the head of household does not have a high school education are much less likely to have access to computers or to use the internet in their home than children in homes where the householder graduated from college (47 percent versus 94 percent, respectively, for computer access and 20 percent compared with 57 percent, respectively, for home internet use in 2003). (See Table 1)

> Back to Top

Differences by Age

Home computer access is high at any age. In 2003, 70 percent of 3- to 5-year-olds had access, compared with 79 percent among 15- to 17 year-olds. Home internet use increases substantially with age. Fifteen percent of children ages three to five used the internet at home in 2003, compared with 65 percent of youth ages 15 to 17. (See Table 1)

Related Indicators

Science Proficiency, Reading Proficiency, Writing Proficiency, Mathematics Proficiency

State and Local Estimates

2000 state estimates for children without a computer at home are available at http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/sld/compare_results.jsp?i=490

2000 state estimates for children without internet access at home are available at http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/sld/compare_results.jsp?i=500

International Estimates

None

> Back to Top

National Goals

None

What Works: Programs and Interventions that May Influence this Indicator

None available at this time.

Research References

¹National Telecommunications and Information Administration. 2002. A Nation Online: How Americans are Expanding Their Use of the Internet. U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/dn/nationonline_020502.htm

²See page 5, Newburger, Eric C. "Computer Use in the United States: 1997, Population Characteristics" Current Population Reports, P20-522, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, October 1997.
http://www.census.gov/prod/99pubs/p20-522.pdf

³Lenhart, Amanda, Madden, Mary, and Hitlin, Paul. (2005). "Teens and Technology: Youth are leading the transition to a fully wired and mobile nation." Pew Internet and American Life Project: Washington, DC.
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Tech_July2005web.pdf

⁴U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Computer and Internet Use by Children and Adolescents in 2001, NCES 2004-014, by Matthew DeBell and Chris Chapman. Washington, DC: 2003.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004014.pdf

⁵Attewell, P., and Battle, J. (1999). Home Computers and School Performance. The Information Society. 15:1-10.

⁶Shields, Margie K., and Behrman, Richard E. (Fall/Winter 2000). "Children and Computer Technology: Analysis and Recommendations." Future of Children, 10(2).
http://www.futureofchildren.org/usr_doc/vol10no2.pdf

⁷National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2001. Non-technical Strategies to Reduce Children's Exposure to Inappropriate Material on the Internet: Summary of a Workshop. Board on Children, Youth, and Families and Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. Joah G. Iannotta, ed. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309075912/html/

⁸Shields, Margie K., and Behrman, Richard E. (Fall/Winter 2000).

> Back to Top

Definition

All persons who lived in a household where the respondent answered "yes" to the question "Is there a personal computer or laptop in this household?" are defined as having access to a computer in the home. Respondents are also asked who within the household uses the Internet, and for what purposes.

Data Source

Data for 1984: Kominski, Robert. "Computer Use in the United States: 1984." Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No. 155, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, March 1998.
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/computer/p23-155.html

Income data for 2003: Day, Jennifer Cheeseman, Janus, Alex, and Jessica Davis "Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003." U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, 2005. http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/p23-208.pdf.

All other data for 2003: Child Trends calculations using data from U.S. Census. "Computer and Internet Use in the United States: October 2003." Tables 2A and 4A. http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/computer/2003.html.

Raw Data Source

U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Computer Ownership Supplement
http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/computer/computer.htm

Approximate Date of Next Update

Fall 2006

> Back to Top