12 Reasons Why 15% Of American Adults Don't Use The Internet [Chart]

If you use the Internet all day long like most people I know, it’s easy to think everyone else does that too. After all, if you look around in your office, on the train, on the bus, in any restaurant, in the mall and everywhere else, you’ll see that almost everyone has a smartphone either in their hands or attached to their bodies. However, not everyone is online, and I’m not talking about just people who live in underdeveloped countries.

According to Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project Spring Tracking Survey taken between April 17 and May 19 of this year (2,252 adults in America were surveyed), 15% of American adults don’t use the Internet. LiveScience posted these results in a chart called Offline Adults And Why, which you can see below.

Since most of us are completely immersed in tech culture, it’s almost hard to believe that 15% of Americans are offline. They aren’t offline just because they’re homeless or can’t afford it. Homeless shelters and public libraries are often equipped with public computers, so it’s not just a matter of money.

So why don’t some people use the Internet? You can see all the reasons below. The number one reason is because people just aren’t interested in it. As a geek who lives a very online lifestyle, I can’t image why a person wouldn’t think the Internet is interesting. It’s the only place in the world where there is something for everyone. But then again, that’s obviously just my opinion.

I know some people who still refuse to buy anything online because they’re convinced their credit card information will get stolen, and you can see that being worried about privacy, viruses, spam, spyware and hackers made this list. As a person who is plugged in all day long, it’s interesting for me to see how other people view the Internet. I hope you think so too.