The changing information environment for nanotechnology: online audiences and content

This study looked at what part of the public is using online sources to find information and news about nanotechnology, what the general public is searching for online in regard to nanotechnology, and what they are finding in an online context about nanotechnology. The authors found that science sites tended to attract more male, non-white users from the Western United States than news sites, and that news sites tended to attract individuals with a slightly higher level of education. A keyword analysis revealed that individuals are using the web to search for information related to the future, health and applications of nanotechnology, and that the majority of content on the web relates to health content more than any other site. The article also includes a breakdown of content in different types of online media, including blogs, government sites and general sites.