The Commons of the Tragedy: How the Internet was used by millions after the terror attacks to grieve, console, share news, and debate the country's response

10/10/2001 | Report  | Lee Rainie Bente Kalsnes

In the days immediately following the September 11 terror strikes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon the number of Americans online dropped. At the same time, there were conspicuously more Internet users getting news online after September 11 than in previous periods. More than two-thirds of Internet users (69%) have used the Web to get news and information related to the attacks and their aftermath. Half of Internet users – more than 53 million people – have gotten some kind of news about the attacks online. Many online Americans have used the Internet to stay “on alert” for news developments by subscribing to email news updates and getting newscasts streamed to their desktops. Others have gone to the virtual commons in chat rooms, bulletin boards, commemorative sites, and other online communities to describe their anguish, offer consoling words, broadcast their patriotism, and debate, even yell at times, about the meaning of September’s events.

View PDF of Report

Other Major News Events Resources

Memo  | 13 million Americans made donations online after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Memo  | Political documentaries in 2004

Report  | Internet as Unique News Source

Report  | The Internet and the Iraq war

Report  | One year later: September 11 and the Internet

Presentation:

China's earthquake and internet

The Internet and Collecting the History of the Present

The Commons of the Tragedy

Article

Internet Use and the Terror Attacks

File:
One Year Later: Sept. 11 and the Internet

File:
How Americans Used the Internet After the Terror Attacks

Data Set:
October 19-November 18, 2001 Tracking Data

Data Set:
October 8-18, 2001 Tracking Data

Data Set:
October 2-7, 2001 Tracking Data

Data Set:
September 20-October 1, 2001 Tracking Data

Data Set:
September 12-19, 2001 Tracking Data