Weise, E. (2000, February 17). More tube time, less interaction: Keyboards contributing to social isolation, stanford study finds. USA Today, p. 3D.

OVERVIEW

• The more time people spend online, the more socially isolated they become.
• About 40% of Internet users report spending five or more hours a week online.
• Of those spending five or more hours a week online:
  • 8% Reported attending fewer social events.
  • 13% Spent less time with family and friends.
  • 26% Spent less time talking to family and friends on the telephone.
  • 59% Spent less time watching television.
  • 34% Spent less time reading the newspaper.

These findings come from a study done by Norman Nie of the Stanford Institute for Quantitative Study of Society and Lutz Erbring of the Free University of Berlin. The research was actually carried out by InterSurvey interviewing 4,113 U.S. adults in 2,689 households.

Nie concluded that Internet use for business purposes increases work time by 9%. " ‘Anyone who carried a cell phone knows that’s that the case. The Internet is more powerful.’ "

Not everyone accepts these conclusions. Actually 74.7% of those interviewed said the time they spend at in-person events remained unchanged. Donna Hoffman does Internet research at Vanderbuilt University in Nashville, TN. She does not see a true statistical difference between those who say "increased" and those who say "decreased."

In response, Nie admits his findings are not yet definitive, but believes they should serve as a public " ‘wake up call.’ "

Gail Williams, director of communities for online culture, hopes the Internet will provide healthy human connections rather than getting people to buy things. " ‘It would be tragic if this incredible new tool ended up being just as socially isolating as television is,’ " she commented.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Have you found, or do you believe, that use of the Internet can actually increase one’s work time?
2. Do you fear the electronic age of television and computers is creating a "virtual life" and "virtual community" for many people?
3. How can you best evaluate the time you spend before TV or on the computer in terms of healthy interaction?
4. How can children and young people be helped to evaluate this issue for themselves?

IMPLICATIONS

• If families, communities, and friendship groups break down, there is not much left of human life.
• Television, the computer, and Internet have great positive and negative potential. We must learn how to use them in healthy balance. We must also acquire skills to help children and young people use technology without becoming enslaved to it.

Dean Borgman cCYS