How the INTERNET is Reshaping Our Lives

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How the INTERNET is Reshaping Our Lives
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INTERNET AND SOCIETY

• Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of
  Society
• Norman H. Nie Lutz Erbring
• February 17, 2000

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Stanford Study

• 65 of American Households have at least one
  computer (19 have more than one)
• 43 of Americans are connected via their own
  computer (in their home)
• 55 of the population currently access the
  Internet at home and at work.

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Stanford Study

• 90 of all Internet users are e-mailers
• 33 of all Internet users use the Internet for
  computer games
• 20 use chat rooms (This ceases at age 30 and
  is usually with anonymous others)

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Stanford Study

• 33 of all Internet users make purchases via the
  Internet
• 15 use the Internet for other transactions such
  as stock trading, online auctions, e-banking,
  etc.

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Some Stanford Conclusions

• Internet Users are losing contact with their
  social environment (15 report a decrease in
  social activities, 25 report a decrease in
  phone calls)
• Internet Users are turning their backs on the
  traditional media (25 report a decrease in TV
  use .. )

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Some Stanford Conclusions

• More time is spent working at home as well as at
  work (15 of workers report using the Internet at
  home for work related tasks.)
• Less time is spent shopping in stores
• There is a Digital Divide based on education and
  age (not income, race or gender)

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How the Internet is Reshaping Our Lives.

• Communication Style Change
• Communication with Strangers (Impostors?)
• Information Source
• Opens Up Business Opportunities
• Opens Up New Ways to Expose Your Creativity

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How the Internet is Reshaping Our Lives.

• Eliminates Body Language
• Reduces the Chance of Discrimination
• Makes Available Information More Readily
  Accessible