Online Political Citizens are Not "Cybergeeks"
A recent study released by the Institute for Policy, Democracy & the Internet provides a picture of America's new online citizenry. According to the report, Political Influentials Online in the 2004 Presidential Campaign, while internet-savvy citizens constitute only 7% of the nation's population, these individuals are having a pronounced effect on politics. The report outlines demographic characteristics of this group and concludes that cyber-citizens are not isolated computer geeks, but instead are vocal, opinionated, and influential members of their communities -- the type of people who "tell their neighbors what to buy, which politician to support, and where to vacation." Read on. (Photo courtesy of johnkerry.com)