We are often told that spending too much time online can be harmful, due to exposure to toxicity and some of the worst aspects of society. However, new research shows that access and use of the internet can help improve overall well-being.
In one study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), the effects of internet use were analyzed on people in 168 countries over a 15-year period.
“Our analysis is the first to test whether internet access, mobile access and regular internet use are related to well-being at a global level”
said Professor Andrew Przybylski of the University of Oxford, co-author of the work.
The Results of the Study
The survey surveyed around 1,000 people a year from 168 countries, asking them about their internet use and different aspects of their well-being, such as life satisfaction, social life, sense of purpose in life and well-being. of the community. The data was analyzed from 2006 to 2021, involving approximately 2.4 million participants aged between 15 and 99.
Among the main discoveries, 84.99% of cases showed statistically significant associations between internet use and well-being, which were mostly positive. Only 0.4% were negative and 14.7% were not statistically significant. One of the parameters, life satisfaction, was found to be 8.5% higher for those who had access to the internet.
Internet: problems and considerations
Despite these positive findings, the study also found that 5% of the associations between use and community well-being were negative, especially among young women aged between 15 and 24. This is consistent with previous reports of an increase in cyberbullying and an increase in depressive symptoms associated with social media use among young women.
These results they have important implications for policy makers looking to introduce more restrictions to protect young people online.
“If we want to make the online world safer for young people, we cannot act recklessly with strong beliefs and uniform solutions. We must be ready to change our minds based on data”
Przybylski said.
What do you think of the results of this study? The use of Internet did it have a positive or negative impact on your well-being? Share your experience in the comments!
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