55% of Internet users search for do-it-yourself information

55% of adult internet users have looked for "how-to," "do-it-yourself" or repair information online and about 7 mln people search for help on a typical day, Pew Internet & American Life Project says. More internet users seek do-it-yourself information online than participate in chat rooms (17%) or online auctions (24%). However, seeking do-it-yourself information online is a less common activity than getting news (72%) and doing research on products and services (78%).

69% of internet users who have high-speed connections at home and at work have sought how-to resources online. That compares to 61% of home broadband users and 55% of home dial-up users who seek do-it-yourself information. While 5% of all internet users will search online for do-it-yourself advice on a typical day, 11% of those who have high-speed connections all around them will seek some type of instructional information on an average day. That compares to 4% of home dial-up users and 7% of home broadband users. Some 59% of users under the age of 50 seek "how-to" information, compared with 47% of those over age 50 who do so. 58% of those with at least some college education seek do-it-yourself information online compared with 50% of those with a high school degree or less. However, there are no substantial variations according to household income for this activity.