Up until recently, typical adopters of new technology often fit a specific stereotype. Anything specific come to mind? ^^^

But a new report shows that the demographic of mobile internet users is drastically changing. From the New York Times blog:

Picture an Internet aficionado, circa 1995.

The first image that comes to my mind is Dennis Nedry, the embryo thief in “Jurassic  Park,” who met his untimely end facing down a dinosaur in a soggy mud pit. The second  is Milton Waddams, the befuddled, staple-hoarding drone from “Office Space.”

…the common characteristics of those two characters — both middle-aged and white —  may no longer be a fitting stereotype, at least when it comes to today’s mobile Internet  aficionado.

According to a new report by the Pew Research Center, the most active group of people currently  making use of mobile internet are young African Americans, who are adopting the technology at a much faster rate than the national average.

While 48% of Africans Americans report using their mobile device at least once for internet, email or instant-messaging, 29% use it on a daily basis. This is up from 12% in 2007 – which means a 141% increase in daily usage numbers.

With this change in mobile technology user demographics, many companies may consider changing their marketing strategies.  Businesses and developers should use their creative genius’ to reach out to this new and diverse market.