Researchers call it the "digital divide."
At a time when nearly everyone seems to be on the internet all the time, a few demographic groups appear to be permanently stuck in the digital dark ages.
Minorities, the elderly, low-income families and residents of rural areas have historically lagged behind in internet use. Technology advocates were hoping as computers became cheaper and more ubiquitous, the divide would narrow. But the latest numbers from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project show only minor gains. That worries researchers who see a large segment of the population shut out of the growing amount of information and opportunities that can only be found online.
"The gap hasn't tremendously shrunk," said Lee Rainey, the project's director. "The disparity still exists-- even as more people are online."
Internet users:
Total Adults: 74 percent
Race/Ethnicity
White: 76 percent
Black: 70 percent
Hispanic: 64 percent
Age
18-29: 93 percent
30-49: 81 percent
50-64: 70 percent
65+: 38 percent
Household income
Less than $30,000: 60 percent
$30,000-$49,999: 76 percent
$50,000-$74,999: 83 percent
$75,000+: 94 percent
Community type
Urban: 74 percent
Suburban: 77 percent
Rural: 70 percent