The digital divide between Black Americans and other American groups has narrowed. 68 percent of African Americans report they are online (compared with 71 percent of all Americans), according to a survey by Yankelovich, sponsored by Radio One Inc, MarketingCharts reports.

Among Black teens, the number of digitally connected is even higher, with 90 percent reporting they are online. Of all Black Americans, two-thirds shop online. Blacks who live in the south are least likely to be online (63 percent).

These findings are part of the "Black America Survey" of 3,400 African Americans age 13 to 74.

The large-scale study finds strong group identity among Blacks across age and income brackets but also reveals differences in segments among Blacks that should preclude marketers from approaching Black America as a monolithic group.

The study also shows…

• Blacks are divided evenly on how they liked to be described, with 42 percent (who are more likely to be affluent) preferring to be called "Black" and 44 percent preferring "African American."
• 70 percent say they have a plan for their future, 54 percent say they are optimistic about their future and 60 percent say "things are getting better for me."

Relationship with Black media:

• 84 percent of households have cable and 81 percent watch Black TV channels weekly.
• 87 percent listen to radio in a typical week (only 16 percent listen to satellite radio).
• 64 percent watch news or read news magazines and 50 percent watch court shows (compared with 41 percent for sports and 46 percent for entertainment).
• Only 29 percent agree that the mainstream media portrays Blacks in a positive light, compared with 50 percent who do not relate to the way Blacks are portrayed on most Black TV shows.
• 40 percent think Black TV is reinforcing a negative stereotype of Blacks.

MarketingCharts has more findings from the study.