Pew Poll: Americans Say They're Better Informed Thanks to Internet

Rather than inundating them with massive quantities of information they cannot possibly digest, most Americans believe the Internet has brought benefits in learning, helped them stay better informed on topics they are interested in, and made it easier to share ideas with others, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project.

According to the poll, which surveyed 1,066 adult Internet users in mid-September, 87 percent of online adults "say the Internet and cell phones have improved their ability to learn new things."

Internet users in higher-income households, those with higher levels of education attainment, and those under 50 "are especially likely to say the internet and cell phones help them ‘a lot’ when it comes to learning new things," Pew reported.

While 26 percent of respondents said they felt "overloaded," 72 percent said "they like having so much information at their fingertips," it added.

The Washington Examiner reported that the survey also found that 74 percent said they are better informed on international news and 75 percent said the same about national news.

"Even through all the tech change in the past generation, people said they are coping fine and relish new options they have to get and share the information that matters to them," said Lee Rainie, director of Pew’s Internet, Science and Technology Research.

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