The Donaldson Adoption Institute | Untangling the Web II
men and women (85%-84%) or between whites and African Americans (86%-85%). Researchers found no difference in Internet use among urban and suburban Americans (86% each), with rural use trailing slightly at 80 percent. Internet use surpassed 90 percent for Americans who had attended at least some college and for those whose household income was over $50,000/year. Its use is lower but still widespread among lower-income Americans (76% in households with incomes under $30,000/year) and those who had not finished high school (59%).2 !
!
Internet use is virtually universal among Americans age 18-29 (98%) and only drops significantly for those over 65 (56%).3 Similarly, 95 percent of teens (ages 12-17) access the Internet, with no statistically significant difference between boys and girls (97%-93%) or older and younger teens (96% for ages 14-17, 93% for ages 12-13).4 In short order, Internet use has become a core facet of life. If the adoption field is to stay current, it must understand and utilize these technologies to reach those interested in adoption, to educate them and to support their needs.!
!
As readers consider the findings in this report, it is important to note that the results of our study are based on respondents who learned about it and chose to participate. Further, those who participated had access to the Internet and were able to use it to complete the survey. The sample may not be representative of all adopted persons, birth/first parents, adoptive parents or adoption professionals. Those who chose to participate may have had particular biases or views that drove their desire to participate. Thus, while the responses are many and varied, we cannot know the extent to which they represent the views of the overall population of each of these groups. !
! !
PART I THE EXPERIENCE OF ADOPTED PERSONS
Sample of Adopted Individuals A large number (392) of adopted adults participated in this survey of Internet and social media use as it relates to their adoptions. Respondents reported living in 39 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The state with the highest single total was California – 13 percent of all respondents. Almost 9 percent (8.7%) reported living outside the U.S. Overall, adopted persons who participated in this survey 2!
“Trend Data (Adults): Whose Online: Internet User Demographics,” PIALP, http://pewinternet.org/ Static-Pages/Trend-Data-(Adults)/Whos-Online.aspx, accessed October 30, 2013. Data from this report covers adults (18 and older) and holds a +/-2.3% margin of error. The researchers found of Hispanic respondents used the Internet, but did not report data for Asian Americans, Native Americans, or Americans identifying as multiracial. 3!
“Trend Data (Adults): Whose Online: Internet User Demographics,” PIALP, http://pewinternet.org/ Static-Pages/Trend-Data-(Adults)/Whos-Online.aspx, accessed October 30, 2013. 4!
“Trend Data (Teens): Teen Internet User Demographics,” PIALP, http://pewinternet.org/StaticPages/Trend-Data-(Teens)/Whos-Online.aspx, accessed October 30, 2013. Data from this report have a +/- 4.5% margin of error.
!13