The Internet Is Good For You

Spending time online is often portrayed as something to avoid, but new international research suggests Internet use is associated with greater well-being in people around the world.

The research finds that links between Internet adoption and well-being are likely to be positive according to a major international study from researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), part of the University of Oxford.

The study analysed data from 2.4 million individuals’ psychological well-being from 2006-2021 across 168 countries, aged 15 to 99 years, in relation to Internet use and their psychological well-being

Across 33,792 different statistical models and subsets of data, 84.9% of associations between Internet connectivity and well-being were positive and statistically significant.In many parts of the world, including the EU and UK, concerns about online harms have prompted new laws. 

The OII says some of its findings are "consistent" with reported links between social media use and depressive symptoms amongst young women. But it concludes the overall benefits of being online show regulators contemplating tougher laws should rely on data and not be "guided by anecdote."

The study did not look specifically at social media, which is what much of the most heated debate around online safety is focussed on, but took a broader approach to assessing access to the Internet. Researchers analysed data gathered between 2006 and 2021 from almost two and a half million individuals aged 15 to 99 worldwide, including from countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. 

They found that people who had Internet access or actively used the Internet reported greater levels of life satisfaction and social wellbeing.  

The researchers studied eight indicators of well-being including life satisfaction, daily negative and positive experiences and community wellbeing.They looked at a "multiverse" of nearly 34,000 different statistical models and subsets of data. 

  • In 85% of cases these showed associations between Internet connectivity and wellbeing that were positive and statistically significant.
  • But around 5% of associations linking Internet use and community wellbeing were negative, with most of those observed amongst young women aged 15 to 24.

While this does not prove that Internet access causes them unhappiness, the paper notes that it is "consistent with previous reports of increased cyberbullying and more negative associations between social media use and depressive symptoms amongst young women".

The researchers do acknowledge the study has certain limits, including the inability to prove cause and effect - the authors of the study could not entirely discount the possibility that it increases incomes, which were also linked to rises in Internet access, were behind people feeling better.

Oxford Internet Inst.    |    Standard   |    Guardian   |    ITV   |   Yahoo   |    Independent   |  APA   |   BBC   | 

New Scientist   |    Gazette & Standard

Image: Andrea Piacquadio

You Might Also Read: 

The Effects Of The Internet On Society:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 

« EC-Council To Decrease AI Chasm With Free Cyber AI Toolkit
Instagram & Facebook Are Addictive For Children »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

Directory of Cyber Security Suppliers

Directory of Cyber Security Suppliers

Our Supplier Directory lists 7,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Intrinsic-ID

Intrinsic-ID

Intrinsic-ID's authentication technology creates unique IDs and keys to authenticate chips, data, devices and systems.

Truth Technologies Inc (TTI)

Truth Technologies Inc (TTI)

TTI is a premier provider of worldwide anti-money laundering, anti-fraud, customer identification, and compliance products and services.

EY Advisory

EY Advisory

EY is a multinational professional services firm headquartered in the UK. EY Advisory service areas include Cybersecurity.

RKH Specialty

RKH Specialty

RKH Specialty, part of the Hyperion Insurance Group, is a provider of specialty insurance services including Cyber Risk cover.

Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill was founded with a single mission: to protect organizations against malicious cyber attacks that come from the deep and dark web, before they materialize.

Langner

Langner

Langner is a software and consulting firm specialized in cyber security for critical infrastructure and large-scale manufacturing.

Cybertonica

Cybertonica

Cybertonica is a FinTech company which detects and prevents fraudulent transactions and reduces risk for financial services organisations.

RISE

RISE

RISE is an independent, State-owned research institute, which offers unique expertise and over 100 testbeds and demonstration environments for future-proof technologies, products and services.

BluBracket

BluBracket

BluBracket is the first comprehensive security solution that makes code safe—so developers can innovate and collaborate, and security teams can sleep at night.

Tier One Technology Partners

Tier One Technology Partners

Tier One Technology Partners is an IT managed services provider that focuses on cybersecurity, cloud services, IT consulting, and infrastructure.

Kocho

Kocho

Kocho (formerly TiG) is a provider of identity and access, cyber security, cloud transformation, and managed IT services.

FPT Software

FPT Software

As a leading technology service provider, FPT assists customers of all sizes and from any industries in implementing and adapting digital technologies including cybersecurity.

Gridware

Gridware

Gridware is a specialised cybersecurity consultancy firm and an emerging global player in the cybersecurity intelligence and advisory field.

Apollo Information Systems

Apollo Information Systems

Apollo is a value-added reseller that provides our clients with the complete set of cybersecurity and networking services and solutions.

BlueCat Networks

BlueCat Networks

BlueCat is the Adaptive DNS company. Our mission is to help the world’s largest organizations thrive on network complexity, from the edge to the core.

Thero6

Thero6

Thero6 develop dynamic financial analysis algorithms that help prevent coin collapses and theft of cryptocurrency funds by identifying the transaction absolutely throughout the chain.