Internet Use Linked To Greater Wellbeing: Study
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14 May 2024
Spending time online is usually portrayed as something to avoid, however, a new study suggests that internet use may actually contribute to greater well-being globally
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The study, conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute, found that despite concerns about online harms, regular use of the internet relates to wellbeing on a global level
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The study did not look specifically at social media but took a broader approach to assessing access to the internet
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Researchers analysed data gathered between 2006 and 2021 from two million individuals aged 15 to 99 worldwide
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They found that people who had internet access or actively used the internet reported greater levels of life satisfaction and social wellbeing
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The researchers studied eight indicators of wellbeing including life satisfaction, daily negative and positive experiences and community wellbeing
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They found that about 85% of cases showed associations between internet connectivity and wellbeing that were positive and statistically significant
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However, 5% of associations linking internet use and community wellbeing were negative, with most of those observed among young women aged 15 to 24
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While the study couldn't prove a cause-and-effect relation, it did not find that measures of life satisfaction were 8.5% higher for those who had internet access
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Notably, the study also did not delve into the length of time people spent using the internet or what they used it for
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