Who uses the Internet? (supplementary Chapter 1 video)

Who Uses the Internet and Who Governs It?

Introduction to Internet Usage

• The video serves as a supplemental resource for Chapter One of the textbook, exploring topics not deeply covered in the text.

• Two primary questions are posed: who uses the internet and who governs it, highlighting their complexity beyond mere technological aspects.

Global Internet Connectivity Statistics

• As of 2022, there are approximately 5 billion internet users globally, representing about 62% of the world's population.

• The growth from 360 million users in 2000 to nearly 5 billion today indicates a significant increase in connectivity over two decades.

Regional Variations in Internet Access

• There is considerable variation in internet access across regions: Europe (82%-100%), North America (90%), South America (72%), with lower rates in Africa and Southeast Asia.

• Approximately 3 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving universal access.

Deeper Insights into Connectivity Issues

• Beyond basic statistics, deeper issues such as affordability reveal that only half of surveyed countries meet the target for affordable data costs.

• Gender disparities are notable; for instance, there is an 85% gap between male and female internet access rates in parts of Africa.

Exploring Digital Divide within the United States

• Data from Pew Research Center highlights disparities based on age, race, education level, income, and urban versus rural living conditions regarding smartphone and broadband access.

• While urban-rural gaps have narrowed significantly over ten years (from over 20 percentage points to around 6), racial digital divides remain largely unchanged at about 10 percentage points.

Government Initiatives Addressing Digital Divide

• In response to these disparities, Congress passed a substantial infrastructure bill in 2021 allocating $550 billion for various infrastructure projects including broadband expansion.

Broadband Internet Access and Usage Statistics

Funding for Broadband Expansion

• The discussion begins with the allocation of funds to expand broadband internet access, particularly in underserved areas. These funds will be managed by state authorities.

• An affordable connectivity fund exceeding $14 billion is established to help reduce costs associated with broadband access, aiming to bridge the digital divide based on income levels.

• Provisions are also made for enhancing digital equity for individuals living on Native American tribal lands and rural utilities.

Global Internet Usage Insights

• Transitioning to global internet usage statistics, the speaker highlights key reasons why people utilize the internet, including staying connected with family and friends, accessing news, learning new skills, and entertainment such as watching TV shows and movies.

• Data from 2021 indicates that over 50% of respondents cited these activities as primary uses of the internet.

Mobile Download Access Rates

• The speaker presents mobile download access rates worldwide, noting a peak rate of 177 megabits per second in the UAE while contrasting it with lower rates in other countries.

• In the United States, average mobile download speeds are significantly lower than leading countries; this raises questions about local access rates experienced by users.

Personal Speed Test Experience

• The speaker conducts a personal speed test using their laptop connected to Comcast's Xfinity cable network from Western Massachusetts.

• They explain how data packets travel through their local cable network to a Comcast server in Boston for testing purposes.

Observations on Download vs. Upload Speeds

• Upon completing the speed test, results show a peak download speed of over 300 megabits per second but only 17 megabits per second for uploads.

• This discrepancy illustrates that most users primarily consume data rather than produce it; Comcast has optimized its network accordingly.

Mobile Network Speed Test Results

• The speaker then tests their mobile phone's connection via Verizon's wireless network to compare speeds against their wired connection.

• Results reveal only two megabits per second download speed on mobile compared to over 300 megabits per second on wired connections.

Conclusion and Future Discussion Topics