Study: The Internet Was A Key Force In 2004 Politics

Study: The Internet Was A Key Force In 2004 Politics

The Internet became an essential part of American politics in 2004. Last year was a breakout year for the role of the Internet in politics. Fully 75 million Americans – 37 percent of the adult population and 61 percent of online Americans – used the Internet to get political news and information, discuss candidates and debate issues in emails, or participate directly in the political process by volunteering or giving contributions to candidates.

The online political news consumer population grew dramatically from previous election years (up from 18 percent of the U.S. population in 2000 to 29 percent in 2004), and there was an increase of more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2004 in the number of registered voters who cited the Internet as one of their primary sources of news about the presidential campaign.

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America’s Overdose Crisis

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How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?

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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.