The Pew Research Center has new findings showing a rise in Internet use by Americans in receiving campaign news and information. Nearly a quarter of Americans (24%) “say they regularly learn something about the campaign from the internet” which is up from just 13% in 2004. The study polled 1,430 American adults.

Not surprising the use of social networks among young people as a way of learning about the campaign is now an important tool and the use of local news by all surveyed is down, markedly since the 2000 election.

For those looking to show a revolution in online campaigning the research doesn’t provide it. Instead a very large percentage of those surveyed (52%) say they came across campaign information while doing something else online rather than solely seeking it out. Meanwhile while Internet dominates those 30 and younger, those 30+ still get the majority of their campaign information from traditional media.

So as one would expect the use of the Internet in learning about the election is up but still has a long way to go.