Americans Aged 50+ Flock Online

Americans age 50 and older scored the most gains in Internet access over the past two years. The Commerce Department reports that Net usage by Americans over 50 rose 53 percent from December 1998 to August 2000. That compares to a 35 percent growth rate for individual Net usage nationwide in the same period.

The Falling Through the Net report says 51 percent of U.S. households have access to computers. And 41.5 percent of households are hooked up to the Net.

The report says computer ownership and Net access have risen among Americans in all locations, of all education and income levels, all ethnic and racial groups, and all ages. The gender gap in Internet usage has disappeared.

Forty-four percent of Americans now use the Internet, up from about 33 percent in 1998. But disparities remain. Internet access is still lagging for those with disabilities, blacks and Hispanics.