According to research conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and published earlier this week, 1 in 3 (35%) of American adults now own a smartphone.
Smartphone adoption among differing groups varies widely:
- The financially well-off and well-educated – 59% of adults living in a household earning income of $75,000 or more are smartphone owners; 48% of those with a college degree own smartphones.
- Those under the age of 45 – 58% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 now own a smartphone as do 49% of those ages 18-24 and 44% of those ages 35-44. Even among those with a household income of $30,000 or less, smartphone ownership rates for those ages 18-29 are equal to the national average.
- African-Americans and Latinos – 44% of blacks and Latinos are smartphone users.
Urban and suburban residents are roughly twice as likely to own a smartphone as those living in rural areas . . .
So What?
1 in 4 smart phone users (25%) use their smartphone for most of their online browsing. Additionally, the research found that “87% of smartphone owners access the internet or email on their handheld, including two-thirds (68%) who do so on a typical day.”
When communicating with parishioners and prospective visitors, does your congregation take into account the increasing number of people who will view the material on a smartphone?
- If so, what changes have resulted from this awareness (for example, display issues on smartphones was one of the reasons why I redesigned this website last month)?
- If not, how might this lack of attention be hindering your communication?