Sick Of The Internet Yet?
from the we've-had-enough dept
Looks like more than a few people are starting to jump on the internet backlash bandwagon. Two new studies show that some people are getting a bit tired of some of the less than enjoyable aspects of online life. They're not shutting off completely, of course -- but that doesn't mean they're happy. First, is a study showing that people are a lot less trusting of online transactions, and many are cutting back. This is probably a good thing, really. People weren't nearly skeptical enough before -- and that opened the door for scammers. The second study, however, may be more interesting. A survey (unfortunately, not enough details given to understand how reasonable it is) says people are increasingly finding internet-based communications less personal, and they wish people would pick up the phone and actually talk sometimes. Of course, this is spun to suggest that email and text messaging were used as ways to avoid real communication. They're leaving out the other side. Absolutely people use these methods to avoid other types of communications. Sometimes. And, sometimes, they use it to stay in better contact or to have more personal communications with people than they could otherwise. It's just a tool and different people use it in different ways to communicate with others. The method itself isn't "less personal" or "more personal" on its own -- it's how people use it.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Nice
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sick of internet stuff
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Sick of internet stuff
Think about it; I know I would rather see a couple ads than to have to pay 4.99/m to be able to search the net with Google.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Sick of internet stuff
Oh yeah, add spyware to the argument too. Spammers, and Spyware authors should be exiled on a distant island, removed from society.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Less Trusting
Just gotta watch out, use common sense on certs, and stay away from the porn ;)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
Sometimes I think you can reveal a lot more through instant messages and emails, I don't know why that is but a lot of people seem to open up more through this medium (in my experience anyway).
Of course I'd never surrender being able to pick up the phone and hear someone speak, but I can also do that with VOIP these days as well.
Still, I'd much rather talk to the person in reality, but when I can't do that the internet is a great way to mantain relationships with friends.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Sick of internet stuff
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Sick of internet stuff
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Internet... more personal?... mayb, maybe not.
My significant other is from (and lives in) Australia, and I live in the United States. I don't get to see her very often in person, so the internet is our main form of contact. We can use our webcams, and programs like google talk, or Skype, or any number of other free programs to talk to one another, voice to voice. If not for the internet, we'd have to rely on snail mail to communicate with one another, and wait upwards of 7-11 days (maybe more) just to get a letter from one another.
So I for one, think that the internet isn't getting in the way, as far as people being personal with one another, it helps me out quite a bit in my situation. But, like a few others have said... I think it all depends on how people utilize it.
I do agree that pop-ups, and spam, and virus's are all a pain in the hind end... but.. there are ways around these things, to a degree. ...
Personally to avoid alot of spam in my inbox, whenever I have to use my email address online to sign up for something, I enter one of my old email addresses that I still check from time to time. All my spam goes there. I give my email address for every day use, to my friends and family, and they are pretty much the only ones I ever get mail from.
as for pop-ups.. there are programs you can get to block most of those, so you don't really have to deal with them very often... and as for viruses... an internet protection software package with anti-virus can help drastically reduce the amount of viruses you are likely to get... some even have spyware blockers and removers.
I guess it all just sort of depends on how much you're willing to learn, and search and sometimes possibly spend, to be hassle free.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I hate phones
Phones are really rude, they intruted on the current activities that I'm doing, instead of waiting until I want to communicate with someone.
Phones are no more 'real communication' than IM.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Email
And forget about online transactions, its enough that they even turn the computer on to check their email.
On the other hand, email is useful if you have difficulty talking with someone, it can be a good ice breaker. Or when communicating with someone when a phone call would be inappropriate.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Sick of internet stuff
[ link to this | view in thread ]