Lee Rainie, Director of Internet and Technology Research at the Pew Research Center, presented this material on October 14, 2020 at a gathering sponsored by the International Institute of Communications. He described the most recent Center public opinion surveys since mid-March, covering the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, racial justice protests that began in the summer, and the final stages of the 2020 presidential election campaign. He particularly examined how and why people are using the internet in the midst of multiple national crises and their concerns about digital divide and homework gap issues. And he covered how the Center has researched the impact of misinformation in recent years.

1. American life in the midst of crisis
How people are using technology as their lives are
upended
Lee Rainie
Director Internet and Technology Research

2. THE PANDEMIC

3. https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/03/30/most-americans-say-coronavirus-outbreak-has-impacted-their-lives/

4. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/14/14-of-u-s-adults-say-they-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19-or-are-pretty-sure-they-have-had-it/

5. Economic fallout from COVID-19 is hitting lower-
income adults harder
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/04/21/about-half-of-lower-income-americans-report-household-job-or-wage-loss-due-to-covid-19/

6. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/09/hispanic-women-immigrants-young-adults-those-with-less-education-hit-hardest-by-covid-19-job-
losses/

7. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/04/a-majority-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-live-with-their-parents-for-the-first-time-since-the-great-depression/

8. THE RACIAL RECKONING

9. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/16/support-for-black-lives-matter-has-decreased-since-june-but-remains-strong-among-black-americans/

10. https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/06/12/amid-protests-majorities-across-racial-and-ethnic-groups-express-support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement/

11. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/24/recent-protest-attendees-are-more-racially-and-ethnically-diverse-younger-than-americans-
overall/

12. THE ELECTION

13. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/10/09/amid-campaign-turmoil-biden-holds-wide-leads-on-coronavirus-unifying-the-country/

14. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/06/30/publics-mood-turns-grim-trump-trails-biden-on-most-personal-traits-major-issues/

15. Two-thirds of Americans say it is likely the COVID-19 outbreak
will disrupt the presidential election
https://www.people-press.org/2020/04/28/two-thirds-of-americans-expect-presidential-election-will-be-disrupted-by-covid-
19/#

16. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/09/14/americans-views-of-government-low-trust-but-some-positive-performance-ratings/

17. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/09/15/us-image-plummets-internationally-as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly/

18. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/09/few-americans-are-confident-in-tech-companies-to-prevent-misuse-of-their-platforms-in-the-2020-
election/

19. INTERNET USE AND ATTITUDES DURING THE
CRISES

20. OpenVault data cited in Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-lockdown-tested-internets-backbone-11597503600

21. Early surge in internet usage – PC Magazine
https://www.pcmag.com/news/data-usage-has-increased-47-percent-during-covid-19-quarantine

22. Early surge in internet usage – PC Magazine
https://www.pcmag.com/news/data-usage-has-increased-47-percent-during-covid-19-quarantine

23. Early surge in internet usage – PC Magazine
https://www.pcmag.com/news/data-usage-has-increased-47-percent-during-covid-19-quarantine

24. New COVID-19 activities
32
30
33
48
38
22
20
32
23
33
19
30
48
23
35
35
20
17
22
23
24
16
15
18
23
25
16
20
25
16
21
22
18
13
22
30
22
12
8
15
17
29
12
15
27
11
18
24
U.S. adults
Men
Women
Ages 18-29
30-49
50-64
65+
White
Black
Hispanic
HS or less
Some college
College+
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Had a virtual party or
social gathering
online with friends or
family
Participated in an
online fitness class -
online workout video
at home
Watched a concert
or a play that was
streamed through
the internet or app
https://pewrsr.ch/3d1MwO3

25. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

26. 53
62
65
49
31
50
52
65
63
52
49
42
52
65
44
54
57
46
59
34
25
29
36
49
37
31
25
29
35
36
38
36
28
39
33
32
37
31
13
14
7
15
20
13
17
11
8
13
15
20
12
6
16
13
10
16
10
U.S. adults
Ages 18-29
30-49
50-64
65+
White
Black
Hispanic
Upper income
Middle income
Lower income
HS or less
Some college
College+
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Rep/Lean Rep
Dem/Lean Dem
Important, but not
essentialEssential
Not too/not at all
important

27. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/04/30/53-of-americans-say-the-internet-has-been-essential-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

28. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/10/59-of-u-s-parents-with-lower-incomes-say-their-child-may-face-digital-obstacles-in-schoolwork/

29. https://pewrsr.ch/3cUghAu

30. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/07/22/most-americans-say-social-media-companies-have-too-much-power-influence-in-politics/

31. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/08/19/most-americans-think-social-media-sites-censor-political-viewpoints/

32. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/07/13/activism-on-social-media-varies-by-race-and-ethnicity-age-political-party/

33. SPECIAL CONCERNS ABOUT MISINFORMATION

34. Americans see made-up news as a bigger problem than other key
issues…
https://www.journalism.org/2019/06/05/many-americans-say-made-up-news-is-a-critical-problem-that-needs-to-be-fixed/

35. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/15/majority-of-americans-disapprove-of-trumps-covid-19-messaging-though-large-partisan-gaps-persist/

36. Democrats and Republicans Often Live in Different Media Worlds
https://www.journalism.org/2020/01/24/u-s-media-polarization-and-the-2020-election-a-nation-divided/
Number of sources more trusted and more distrusted for political and election news, among 30 asked about

37. Little Overlap in the Sources Trusted for Political News – Republican version
https://www.journalism.org/2020/01/24/u-s-media-polarization-and-the-2020-election-a-nation-divided/
% of Republicans and Republican leaners who trust or distrust each source for political and election news

38. Little Overlap in the Sources Trusted for Political News – Democrat version
https://www.journalism.org/2020/01/24/u-s-media-polarization-and-the-2020-election-a-nation-divided/
% of Democrats and Democratic leaners who trust or distrust each source for political and election news

40. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/09/17/u-s-public-now-divided-over-whether-to-get-covid-19-vaccine/

41. Lee Rainie
Director of Research, Internet and Technology
lrainie@pewresearch.org
@lrainie