Description

CISMRTPHN reports whether the respondent or any member of their household owned or used a smartphone.

User Note: The ACS 2016 introduced changes to the questions regarding computer use and Internet access. See the comparability section and questionnaire text for more information.

Comparability

In 2016, the ACS rephrased the wording of the computer access question and the options available to respondents. Specifically, the question dropped the prompt asking respondents to "EXCLUDE GPS devices, digital music players, and devices with only limited computing capabilities, for example: household appliances." Prior to 2016, three options were available to respondents: 1) Desktop, laptop, netbook, or notebook computer, 2) handheld computer, smart mobile phone, or other handheld wireless computer, and 3) some other type of computer. These options were expanded to four in 2016: 1) Desktop or laptop, b) smartphone, c) tablet or other portable wireless computer, and d) some other type of computer. For multiyear ACS/PRCS files from 2017-onward, the Census Bureau allocated smartphone presence for all household records from 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Data about computer and Internet use also has been collected sporadically from the Current Population Survey (CPS) since 1984. Both surveys exclude those living in group quarters. However, users should note CPS Computer and Internet data is not necessarily comparable to ACS data in several important ways. First, unlike the ACS, some CPS Computer and Internet questions are asked at the person level. In addition, the CPS questions and answer categories have changed multiple times over the years. Therefore, comparable data may not be available for certain questions during some years. Finally, some questions may appear to have similar wording between the ACS and CPS, but may have a different question universe.

Universe

Availability

• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: ACS
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2004: --
• 2003: --
• 2002: --
• 2001: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: PRCS
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

There is no editing procedure available for this variable.