A recent study by the Pew Internet Project suggests that the “act of search” on the Internet is gaining popularity over email communication. Can this be true?

The survey results show a dramatic increase of search engine use from 30% in the June 2004 to 41% in September 2005. This means the average daily average jumped from 38 million in June 2004 to about 59 million in September 2005 ? an increase of about 55%.

I know this isn’t a good apples to apples comparison but if you compare your past telephone use with your current internet use, I see an interesting correlation. In the olden days, how often did you call information on your phone? How often did you open up the yellow pages to look for a phone number or service? Do we now care more about finding information than communicating with others?

I guess this study shows that being online just doesn’t mean emailing grandma your pictures of your new baby boy anymore. The search for information and data is second nature. If you don’t know something or you can’t remember something, no problem, just Google-it! Do you remember that scene in the Matrix, when Trinity immediately needs to know how to fly a helicopter? She made a request to Tank and he instantly downloaded the information into her head. Tada! She knew how to fly a chopper. This is not your mom’s Internet anymore.

Here’s the full report:
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/167/report_display.asp