The Pew Research Center collects a plethora of data about how Americans use the Internet, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, browsing, social media, and email. A new Pew study shows that most Americans go online daily, and 21 percent of them use the Internet "almost constantly." In addition, most U.S. adults who go online do that many times per day, and only 6 percent of the respondents reported that they do not go online at least once daily.
The "almost constantly" survey option first appeared in a Pew survey in April, according to The Verge. About one-fourth of teens chose the option.
Young people between 18 to 29 years old was the age group most likely to go online nearly all the time, at 36 percent, according to NBC News. The next highest group was the 30 to 49-year-olds, at 28 percent.
In the Pew study the senior citizen group aged at least 65 years old was the least likely to be nearly always online. That figure was just 6 percent.
Other groups that reported using the Web very frequently included people with high education and income levels. Meanwhile, African-Americans went on the Internet a little more than white and Latino survey participants.
A total 87 percent of smartphone and tablet owners used the Internet more than others. The figure was about two-thirds among people without smart phones and portable computers.
The Verge points out that "going online" is a gray area. For example, it might or might not include Web-based notifications or alerts on Apple and Android devices, and streaming music and videos.
Another issue is how someone goes online "almost constantly." Possible situations include work-based Internet connectivity; or browsing the Web and making Facebook posts on weekday evenings, but then going offline all weekend.
The Pew Internet study was conducted by telephone from June to July during this year. It included 2,001 Americans at least 18 years old.
The Pew Research Center was established in Washington, D.C. in 2004.