About half of all U.S. Hispanics with Internet access now connect through broadband at home, according to a new survey by America Online. The number is on par with that of the general online population, despite the fact that Hispanics are "relatively newer to the Internet," according to AOL. Hispanics go online at home an average of 9.2 hours a week, almost an hour more than the general online population, and 70 percent view the Internet as the best source for comparing prices. Hispanic consumers also are younger, as well as heavier users of Internet features such as music downloading and instant messaging. 56 percent of Hispanics online are between the ages of 18 to 34 vs. 34 percent for the general online population. The survey found they use the Internet far more frequently than the general online population to listen to music (55% vs. 41%), download music files (37% vs. 25%), and for instant messaging (59% vs. 48%). The survey also indicates that 47 percent of online Hispanics have children under the age of 18 at home vs. 37 percent for the general online population and that they are far more upbeat about the ability of the Internet to improve the lives of their children.
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