So maybe the Internet isn’t so evil after all. The Pew Research Center (I love those guys), says in a new report that 64 percent of the people they surveyed in thirty-two emerging and developing countries believe the Internet has a positive influence on education.
But that’s not all. Over 50 percent in those countries also think the Internet has a positive influence on personal relationships and the economy. On the other hand, they don’t really believe the world’s greatest communication tool has a positive influence on either politics or morality. Only 36 percent say politics is influenced positively, while less than a third, just 29 percent, agree that the Internet has a good influence on morality.
OK, so I guess porn is not appreciated in lots of these countries. I understand, but I just want you to know that they don’t care.
Now, which countries have the largest number of people accessing the Internet at least occasionally via computer or smartphone? The U.S. reigns supreme in this study with 87 percent of American online at least once in awhile, but Chile comes in second with over three-fourths of Chileans checking out the Internet at least occasionally. Russia comes in third with 73 percent.
Other countries at or above the 50 percent mark are Venezuela (67 percent), Poland and China (63 percent), Argentina and Lebanon (62 percent), Colombia (57 percent), Malaysia (55 percent), Ukraine (53 percent), Brazil (51 percent), Mexico and Egypt (50 percent).
Internet and smartphone usage rates in all countries studied are driven primarily by 18-34-year-olds, those denizens of the digital world known as millennials.
Once on line, most people start socializing like crazy. Over 80 percent of everyone surveyed uses the Internet for socializing. About half use it for getting information but less than one-third use it for career and commerce, like looking for a job.
Facebook, et al should be very happy with this study, especially with our friends in the Philippines. Social media usage there is at an incredible 93 percent. In fact, over 80 percent of the people in the nineteen countries surveyed say they use social networking sites.
If you’re not too busy posting pictures of your cat, could you please share this AVA blog?
