55% of U.S. Adults Used the Internet to Participate in the 2008 Presidential Election

More than half of U.S. adults used the Internet to participate in the 2008 election – the first time that threshold has been crossed – according to a new study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Some 55% searched for political news online, researched candidate positions, debated issues or otherwise participated in the election over the Internet. Among the findings:

• 45% of Internet users watched online videos related to politics or the election;
• 33% of Internet users shared political content with others;
• 52% of those on a social network used it for political purposes.

The Internet has grown steadily as a source of political news since 2000, when 11% of voters went online to keep up with political developments. That figure now stands at 26%. Among young voters and those with broadband connections the Internet has eclipsed traditional media like television, radio and newspapers, the survey found.

Read the full report.

[via Yahoo!Tech]