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Well, I wasn't meaning to imply a criticism of Americans in saying that it seemed to be mostly Americans who used the term. (For starters, it's also mostly Americans who post generally!)
I hear what you say about American education, Jeannie, but I think it's also that the Internet has a perceived authority that is often unwarranted, leading people to believe something uncritically as absolutely true merely because they've seen it posted online somewhere. But there are so many posts, blogs, FAQ sections and information sites made by people who want to tell how it "is", but don't actually have knowledge or even correct terminology to back up their assertions. So along with imprinted opinions, the readers/carriers also inherit misused jargon and poor grammar as part of the job lot. And so it spreads.
I chuckle grimly whenever I hear mention of how we're living in the "Information Age", because of course it's no such thing. "Uninformed-But-With-An-Opinion-Anyway" Age might be a little closer. Or maybe that's just how it looks from atop this particular soapbox.
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