Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being?
Areas (subjects) where Internet impact is most controversial:
- Social involvement
- Family communication
- Social support
- Loneliness
- Stress
- Depression
- Displacing social activity
- Displacing strong ties
- Possible causal mechanisms
Implications for policy and design
The negative effects of Internet use that we have documented here are not inevitable. Technologies are not immutable, especially not computing ones. Their effects will be shaped by how they are constructed by engineers, how they are deployed by ser vice providers, and how they are used by consumers. Designing technology and policy to avoid negative outcomes will depend on a more complete understanding of the mechanisms through which use of the Internet influences social involvement and psychological well-being.
..greater use of the Internet was associated with subsequent declines in family communication.
..The social support measure and the loneliness measure have some items with comparable content (e.g., “I can find companionship when I want it” is on the loneliness scale and “When I feel lonely, these are several people I can talk to” is on the social support scale.
..Although the association between Internet use and subsequent social support is negative, the effect does not approach statistical significance.
..people who used the Internet more subsequently reported larger increases in loneliness
..while use of the Internet may increase aggregate stress
..greater use of the Internet was associated with increased depression at a subsequent period
