Among those whose first contact with the Internet was between August 1995 and April 1996, only 11 percent are computer professionals, compared with 23 percent of those with access in August 1995. Only 39 percent of newcomers have a college degree, compared with 56 percent of long-time users. The new data also show that the Net is no longer a boys' club. Forty percent of newcomers to the Internet are women, compared with 33 percent of long-time users. Of course, access is not the same as use.
Net users are a smaller bunch, but they are also growing rapidly.
About 17 percent of people aged 16 and older in the U.S. and Canada had been on the Net at least once in the six months prior to April 1996, compared with 10 percent in the three months prior to August 1995. Twelve percent had been on the Net in the past week, compared with 6 percent in August 1995. And 6 percent of the survey had used the Internet in the last 24 hours, compared with 3 percent eight months earlier. If you're wondering whether your company's World Wide Web site is a waste of money, take heart. Use of the Web showed the sharpest increase among a variety of activities measured by Nielsen.