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Focus Magazine

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Measuring the Divide: African Americans' Access to the Online Universe

During the last decade, technology has changed significantly and the diffusion of various forms of technology throughout the United States has been widespread, but uneven. This paper examines the "digital divide" and several of the major factors that affect Internet use across and within racial groups, especially among African Americans. It also looks at how those who do have Internet connections use the Internet, as a way of informing how efforts might be made to make the Internet more engaging (as well as more accessible) to African Americans. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of broadband and the implications of its potential diffusion, particularly for health care, minority businesses, and African American communities. An appendix presents information on the characteristics of the African American population that affect Internet use in ten states and the District of Columbia.

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Date Published: March 2006

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Did You Know?

Did you know that the earliest age at which you can retire and receive partial Social Security benefits is 62 years? Did you know that the earliest age at which you can retire with full benefits is 65 years? Many African Americans do not know these facts—a October-November 2005 Joint Center survey found that a majority of African American respondents (61 percent) know that you can get benefits if you retire early. However, only 39 percent of African American respondents know that the early retirement age is 62 years, and only a third (32 percent) know that 65 years is the earliest age at which one can retire with full benefits.