113. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY USERS

Laura Silver and Christine Huang reported on the major findings of a Pew Research Center survey conducted among 28,122 adults in 11 countries from September 7 to December 7, 2018. In addition to the survey, the Center conducted focus groups with diverse groups of participants in Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, and Tunisia in March 2018. This post culls from that report.

“A Pew Research Center survey of adults in 11 nations across four global regions finds that, in many key respects, smartphone users — and especially those who use social media — are more regularly exposed to people who have different backgrounds and more connected with friends they don’t see in person. Those with smartphones are also more likely to have accessed new information about health and government services.”

“Across most of the 11 emerging economies, people with smartphones also tend to be more likely to interact regularly with people from different political parties, income levels and racial or ethnic backgrounds.”

“Additionally, the results of other questions indicate that mobile phones and social media are broadening people’s social networks. For instance, more than half in most countries say they see in person only about half or fewer of the people they call or text. Mobile phones are allowing many to stay in touch with people who live far away.”

“Many mobile phone users are also using their phones to find new information. … Around half or more of mobile phone users in nearly all countries report having used their phones over the past 12 months to learn something important for work or school.”

“Majorities in most countries say their phones have helped their ability to earn a living. Focus group participants often highlighted the way their phones enhance their ability to reach clients, to schedule work shifts or to market their businesses.”

“There are also major differences by age and education level in how their devices are — or are not — broadening their horizons. Younger people are more likely to use their phones for nearly all activities asked about, whether those activities are social, information-seeking or commercial. For example, those under 30 in most countries are around twice as likely — or more — as those ages 50 and older to send text messages, take pictures, buy and sell goods and more. Younger mobile phone users are also more likely to say they encounter different sorts of people in their day-to-day lives. Phone users with higher levels of education are also more likely to do most activities on their phones and to interact with those who are different from them regularly than those with lower levels of education.

“Gender, too, plays a role in what people do with their devices and how they are exposed to different people and information. Men are more likely than women to say they encounter people who are different from them, whether in terms of race, politics, religion or income. And men also tend to be more likely to look up information about government services and to obtain political news and information. Men also are more likely to have used their phones over the past year for commerce — both in terms of looking for jobs and buying or selling goods.”

Q: What do you think are the implications of this data from countries with emerging economies?