A new survey finds that Americans are going online for many reasons, and many people are driven there by the recession. The report by the PEW Research Center's Pew Internet & American Life project finds that 69 percent of American adults have gone online in the past year for reasons specifically related to the recession.

The report also found that the most avid Internet users are those hardest hit by the recession. Some 52 percent of American adults have experienced financial hardship and turned to the Internet for information and ideas.

Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project and co-author of the new report, said people are using the Internet to understand the recession better and also to rant and share their experiences in improving their situation.

For any IT executive, these findings can help them understand their customers. As business managers look at ways to connect with clients, this study may be a good way to see what's really going on in America.

For more on Internet use and the recession:
- check out this cnet.com article

Related Articles:
Recession fears hit IT
Seven ways to deal with IT workers in the recession
Study: Improve your office productivity by surfing the Internet often