New Medium Good Or Evil As We Make It
A new study by the Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society reveals, “The more hours people use the Internet, the less time they spend with real human beings.” Stanford Professor Norman Nie, director of SIQSS, said, “The Internet could be the ultimate isolating technology that further reduces our participation in communities even more than television did before it.”
We’re becoming a society of recluses? Let’s consider these findings logically.
Yes, the red flags are there. The Internet is a seductive force. Executives have ruined their careers by downloading pornography at work. Pedophiles lure victims under the cloak of online anonymity. Hackers wreak havoc with carelessly released personal information. Marriages may suffer from personal neglect.
It’s easy to imagine being sucked into cyberspace, barely surfacing for a breath of fresh air. Net surfing and online chats can absorb hours in what seems the blink of a cursor. But about two-thirds of those surveyed who have Internet access said they spend fewer than five hours a week online. That doesn’t sound excessive.
Those who use the Internet five or more hours a week, however, report significant changes in their lives. Fifteen percent - and this group is growing - log more than 10 hours weekly online.
One-quarter of survey respondents spend less time with friends and family or talking on the phone. Someone training for a marathon could be accused of the same.
The study also revealed that some regular Internet users are working more hours for their employer at home, without reducing office hours, indicating a melding of work and home life. Workaholism shouldn’t be blamed on the Internet, however.
One-tenth said Internet use has reduced their outside social activities. What, they’re turning down party invitations so they can hang out in online chat rooms? At least they’re not driving drunk.
Two-thirds say Internet use has reduced their TV viewing. That’s not so awful. One-third spend less time reading newspapers. We hope their online reading includes their online local newspapers.
Most Internet users enjoy e-mail, possibly explaining a decline in phone use - especially long distance. For many, e-mail has increased communication with friends and family, even making possible renewed connections with distant relatives and old friends. For others, the Internet has provided a social link for an otherwise lonely life.
The Internet can have a dark side socially, but only if people allow it to. Society is still adjusting to this valuable tool.