Pew Internet Report -- A Portrait of Early Adopters

Report here.

This report explores the qualities of longtime internet users and what initially brought them online. Basic priorities haven't changed -- the initial desire was to connect with friends and colleagues and explore the new "cyberworld." Today, this group continues to connect, although much of the activity is now on social networking sites; this group continues to explore, although more aggressively as they upgrade to broadband and wireless.

Many respondents (51%) cited personal reasons for going online, while only 31% said work was the cause and 19% said school was the cause. Some of these personal reasons included searching for assistance with health issues, education and job training, or classes. These people, rather than choosing face-to-face interaction, public libraries, or newspapers for this information, chose the internet -- a medium that could link them to the most people and sources.

Additionally, most respondents reported that they were originally only "consumers" of the internet -- they got their news, conducted research, downloaded software and emailed friends on the internet. However, as they became more familiar with the online environment, easier online tools became available, and faster connections arrived, they began to create content: publish writing, share photos, rate products, tag content. These folks didn't wait to learn the "proper use" for the internet -- they jumped right in, made it their own, and created their own rules. The medium is influenced by its users like no other.

This particular report interested me because in 1993 I, at the tender age of 13, considered myself to be on the cutting edge of the world wide web. My parents, on the recommendation of my techie uncles, allowed me to have an AOL account and I spent an embarrassing amount of time on it. My mind was immediately blown. I could communicate with people across the country in real-time in chat rooms. I could take online classes in genetics (I know, I was a pretty popular kid). I could read the newspaper. I COULD BUY THINGS. At 16, I was setting up my own message boards and had a (feeble attempt at) a website.

I wasn't just consuming. I was CREATING. This sixteen-year-old had a lot of things to say! And people from all over the world could read it! I couldn't believe how important I was. Hey, friends, could you just email that information to me? Oh, you don't have email? Sheesh.

I'm not terribly surprised that these longtime users first hopped on the internet for personal reasons. There wasn't much to do that was work- or school-related -- plenty of workplaces and schools did not even have an online presence. It wasn't until I went to college in 1998 that we were communicating with email and even then, our email technology was still fairly young.

My communication priorities have changes a lot in sixteen years. Back then, I was interested in connecting with anyone and everyone and discussing anything and everything. A 45-year-old woman in Edina, MN who wants to discuss Springsteen's "Nebraska" album? Let's chat for a few hours. An email from a Boston College student who wants to talk about their chances against Notre Dame? Hi there, pen pal. Now, my connections are heavily guarded. I would never add a stranger as a Facebook friend. I don't care if you happen to like the same music as I do, MySpace user, leave me alone.

Maybe I feel like I don't have the time to put into developing these internet connections. Maybe I'm just not much of a networker (although I really should work on it). I blog and I tweet, but I rarely consider the non-friends out there who are consuming my "product." I've come a long way from that sixteen-year-old who had a lot to say...and maybe there's something a little sad about that.