In the 2000 survey year, respondents were asked whether they had access to a home computer running specified operating systems, whether they could access the internet via a web browser, and whether they connected to the internet through a modem or other means. These questions were repeated in the 2002–2012 survey rounds but only for respondents who had not previously reported having internet access.

In 2014, all respondents were presented with a revised, short series of questions about internet use. They were asked whether they had an electronic device capable of accessing the internet and, if so, which devices they used most frequently, such as laptops, tablets, or cell phones. An internet access question was revisited in 2020.

In 2022, respondents were again asked the internet access question. They were also asked additional details, including the type of internet service plan they used (e.g., broadband, satellite, or dial-up), whether they primarily accessed the internet via a cell phone or another device such as a desktop, laptop, or tablet, and the types of activities they performed online, such as shopping, bill payments, and video conferencing.