Demographics

RSS is currently something primarily utilized by technology elites - it's an incredibly useful tool, but something that hasn't yet been discovered by the vast majority of people using the internet.

Ipsos (on behalf of Yahoo) did a poll in August 2005 about the use and knowledge of RSS amongst internet users in the United States, and discovered that: 
  • Just 12% of internet users have heard of RSS.
  • Only 4% of internet users actually use RSS.
    • 52% of the people who use RSS mostly use it to subscribe to world and national news.
    • About 1/3 of RSS users subscribe to entertainment, science and technology, weather and local news feeds.
  • Perhaps most significantly, the 4% of internet users who subscribe to RSS feeds are, for the most part...
    • men: 71%
    • young (aged 18 - 34): 50%
    • well educated (college-level or higher): 67%
    • relatively wealthy: average income of $74 000 1
 Businessman with globe in his hands
Screenshot of RSS feeds for jobs and immigration This means statistically, the majority of RSS users out there would likely not need to subscribe to the Hennepin County Library's RSS feeds for immigration and citizenship, or jobs and careers.

Does this mean that libraries (especially public libraries) shouldn't bother using their valuable resources to provide RSS content to their users, considering that those who regularly use the public library likely don't fall into the above category of RSS users?  Absolutely not!

Public libraries play a key role in bridging the digital divide:
  • "Public library computers are reaching the disadvantaged groups consistently identified as lacking technology access and skills." 2
  • "Library patrons use public library computers to learn basic computer and internet skills." 3
If RSS does take off and become an indispensable technology for the general public in the future, as many predict ("enthusiasts see these Web feeds as sketching the outline of the next Net revolution" 4), then public libraries have the responsibility to introduce new technologies like RSS to their users, and utilize them to disseminate relevant information.
[Home]  [What RSS Does]  [How to Use RSS]  [RSS and Librarians]  [RSS and Libraries]  [Problems]  [Demographics]
[Potential]  [References]  [Links]