Intersectional analysis of sociodemographic factors and values influencing internet usage in the United States

This study examines how sociodemographic variables (age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity) and beliefs in unifying societal values interact to influence internet usage in the U.S. Employing data from the Pew Research Center's 2024 National Public Opinion Reference Survey (N = 5,626), the study combines multivariate regression and two-step cluster analyses to identify both direct and intersectional effects.Statistical analysis reveals meaningful interactions between age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, and unity beliefs, accounting for about 24% of the variation in how frequently people use the internet.To enhance our understanding, we conducted cluster analysis alongside regression, identifying distinct user groups and providing deeper insights into how demographic factors and belief in unifying values combine to influence online behavior.The results emphasize the importance of approaches that address multiple factors when developing strategies to bridge the digital divide, a multifaceted societal problem rooted in both structural and perceptual disparities in digital access and engagement.Policies and interventions to minimize the digital divide should consider the intersectionality among factors rather than focusing on individual factors alone.