The Infinite Dial® is the longest-running survey of digital media consumer behavior in America, tracked annually since 1998. Over its 20+ year history, it has become the survey of record for a number of important media channels, including streaming audio, podcasting, and social media, and is relied upon by its audience of content producers, media companies, agencies, and the financial community. Our ongoing Infinite Dial research series is conducted using the highest standards of survey research, using a random-digit dialing methodology (mobile and landline) to produce a nationally representative, projectable look at the behaviors of the U.S. population ages 12 and over.
Among the milestones first recorded by the Infinite Dial:
1999: More than half the U.S. population has a computer in their home
2001: 53% of Americans have Internet access at home
2002: Cell phone ownership exceeds 50%
2006: Podcasting debuts; 22% of Americans are familiar with the term
2008: The iPhone is first tracked with 2% of the population owning one
2011: Facebook is used by over half the population (51%)
2013: Smartphone ownership exceeds 50%
2017: Smart Speaker tracking introduced with 7% of Americans 12+ owning one
2019: Over half the population say they have ever listened to a podcast
2021: 33% of Americans 12+ own a smartspeaker
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See below for more published reports from The Infinite Dial, and contact us with any questions or requests.
The Infinite Dial 2012: Navigating Digital Platforms
Weekly Online Radio Audience Jumps More Than 30 Percent in Past Year Says New Arbitron/Edison Research Study Study Also Reveals That Smartphone Ownership Has Tripled in Two Years The weekly audience of all forms of online radio is now at an estimated 76 million Americans age 12 and older, reaching 29 percent of the population […]
The Infinite Dial 2011 – Navigating Digital Platforms
Smartphone Ownership Doubles Year Over Year to Nearly One-Third of Americans Says New Arbitron/Edison Research Study Study Also Reveals That Facebook, Multi-Computer Homes Cross 50% Threshold The percentage of Americans age 12 and older who have a smartphone has more than doubled in the past year, from 14 percent to 31 percent of the population […]
The Infinite Dial 2010: Use of Social Media Explodes
Almost Half of Americans Have Profiles Says New Arbitron/Edison Research Study Study Also Reveals Younger Consumers Eager to Adopt Mobile Digital Radio The percentage of Americans age 12 and older who have a profile on one or more social networking Web sites has reached almost half (48 percent) of the population in 2010 – double […]