Member Article

Internet Helps Make Life Decisions

The internet expands and strengthens the social ties that people maintain in the offline world, according to a new report.

45 per cent of American internet users - about 60 million people - say the internet has played an important or crucial role in helping them deal with at least one major life decision in the previous two years. This is a 33% increase from a similar survey in 2002.

John Horrigan, Associate Director for Research at the Pew Internet Project and author of the report, said: “Internet use provides online Americans a path to resources, such as access to people who may have the right information to help deal with family health crises or find a new job. “When you need help these days, you don’t need a bugle to call the cavalry, you need a big buddy list.”

The six major decisions made using the internet were: finding out about a medical condition, choosing a school, buying a car, making a major financial decision, finding a new place to live and changing jobs or training for a career.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .