They aren’t quite as popular as email, but search engines have rapidly become one of the top activities of U.S. Internet users. According to a recent report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, nearly half of online folks use a search engine on typical day.

That’s a pretty significant jump over January of 2002, when the number stood at 29 percent, according to the group’s surveys. Email, however, remains the top online activity, with 60 percent of Internet denizens using email on a typical day.
Other popular activities include checking news (39 percent) and checking weather (30 percent).

The report also delves into the specifics of those who use search engines. This is what they found:

Educated users are more likely to use search engines.

• College graduate: 66 percent
• Some college: 49 percent
• High graduate or less: 32 percent

As you might expect, people with faster Internet access were more likely to use search engines.

• Broadband at home: 58 percent
• Dial-up at home: 26 percent

And, apparently men are more likely than women to search.

• Men: 53 percent
• Women: 45 percent