Device usage: How your audience accesses the internet

A recent Pew Research report shows just how prevalent the internet is in modern society. Forty-one percent of adults in the United States claimed that they were online “almost constantly.” When asked if they used the internet every day, that jumped to 90%. In one form or another, most Americans are getting online daily to check the news, use social media, browse the internet, watch videos and otherwise engage with digital culture. It is completely intertwined with business, commerce and other aspects of society in a way that would have seemed nearly unfathomable just a few decades ago — but that now feels almost predictable.

There are some differences, depending on the age group, as young people tend to use the internet more often. For instance, when researchers asked Americans if they used the internet almost constantly, while 41% responded that they did overall, that was only true for 14% of those who are 65 and older. For Americans between 50 and 64 years old, it rose to 33%. In the 30 to 49-year-old age bracket, the majority responded positively, at 54%. Young people used the internet most of all, as those between 18 and 29 claimed to be online constantly at a rate of 63%.

What device do they use most?

It is clear that you have an audience for your website, but it is important to consider how people are going to get there. While Americans used to need a desktop in the home to get online, that is no longer the case.

Today, reports indicate that roughly 61.5% of people use either a desktop or a laptop computer. This is the majority, but it is worth noting that it is in decline. The percentage gets slightly lower annually.

So where are people going instead? They are largely turning to their phones. For example, 96.3% of internet users who were at least 16 years old claimed they would use some type of mobile phone to access the web. This was usually a smartphone, which came in at 94.2%.

But other devices are also seeing higher usage rates. Internet-connected televisions came in at 31.7%, while tablets came in at 27.9%. Smart home devices have been on the rise and now come in at 17.9%, while another 11.5% of users said they would access the internet via a gaming console. Virtual reality continues to lag behind, but it still accounted for 4.3%.

What this means for your web design

These numbers help to illustrate why it is absolutely necessary to have a website that is optimized for mobile access. People are using their smartphones more often, and there is a significant subset of internet users who do not even own a computer. Even if they are online every day, it is always through their phone.

This can also change the way that people search and the terms that they use. On a desktop, people are typically typing manually, so they may use more traditional keywords or phrases. They are typing in something short and then choosing from a list on a search results page.

But for someone on their phone, voice texting and searching is much easier. This can lead to longer search terms, more complex keywords and things of this nature. In fact, many users will simply ask their phone a question, so they are essentially searching for answers directly. They’re using questions more than keywords.

A changing internet landscape

The statistics above do help to show how things have changed over the years, but it is important to remember that technology changes quickly. Just two decades ago, almost no one went online with a phone, and there may be a time in the future when the majority of users do not own a computer. It is important to keep an eye on these trends and see how things shift.

Here at Content Customs, we can help you address search engine optimization, web design, mobile optimization and other key components. Just get in touch with us today to learn more.