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.