16 percent regularly spend time on the Internet, and 13 percent visit the Labor department's electronic bulletin board. Readers use these online resources in a variety of ways. 22 percent exchange e-mail over these networks. 26 percent use the technology to access news and other reference information. 18 percent also download files.
Most readers only spend a few hours a week online.
44 percent are online 1-2 hours. 28 percent are connected for 3 to 5 hours, and 12 percent spend 6 to 10 hours online. Readers see great potential to locate and sort through information easily and quickly. They also point to a range of drawbacks accompanying this information revolution. A common criticism is the lack of human interaction.