In what is called a "striking shift" in the way money for charity is given, Americans under 40 are now "just as likely" to give donations to disaster relief via electronic means as through more traditional avenues, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. And giving in the wake of Japan's disaster is evidence of that.

"More than a third of those who have already donated (36 percent) say they made their contribution digitally — online, through text messages or email," Pew said in its report.

"Among those younger than 40, about as many have donated digitally as through more traditional methods. Older Americans are also more likely than in the past to give to disaster relief efforts via electronic means, but they still prefer traditional methods of giving."

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