Adapting Outreach Strategies for Changing Internet Use

Chris Haller parses the data in a recent report on Internet use for implications for how communities should manage their public outreach strategies.

2 minute read

August 22, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


The recent "Digital Differences" report from the Pew Internet Project contains a wealth of fascinating information on the ways in which different demographic segments of America's population access the internet. With a wealth of platforms used by community members to access the internet, a one-size-fits-all strategy for public outreach, such as simply developing a project website, may limit your potential pool of participants. As Haller notes, it is "important to consider other methods now gaining traction to
help you reach out to citizens in alternate ways to engage the citizens
of your community in the planning process."

Among some of the relevant findings on the report to consider when devising a public outreach plan:

  • The rise of mobile is changing the story. Groups that have
    traditionally been on the other side of the digital divide in basic
    internet access are using wireless connections to go online. 
  • Email and search are today's most common Internet activities, but other
    activities are becoming pervasive as well. Using social networking
    sites, a pursuit once dominated by young adults, is now done by 65% of
    Internet users- representing a majority of the total adult population.
  • The 27% of adults living with disability in the U.S. today are significantly less likely than adults without a disability to go online (54% vs. 81%).
  • One in five American adults does not use the internet. Senior
    citizens, those who prefer to take our interviews in Spanish rather than
    English, adults with less than a high school education, and those
    living in households earning less than $30,000 per year are the least
    likely adults to have internet access.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 in Engaging Cities

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Aerial view of Spokane, Washington with river in foreground.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package

Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

July 8 - The Spokesman-Review

Close-up on black and white "Bike Lane Ends" sign with bike logo.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane

The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.

July 8 - Houston Public Media

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA