![]() |
Internet Use and Social Behavior |
There are a fair number of studies attempting to quantitatively explore how
using the Internet affects peoples behavior. One famous early study, a
paper by Kraut et al apparently discovered that
using the Internet more led to less activity with former pastimes and less social
contact. While the findings caused some amount of concern, it is not entirely
clear that an Internet Paradox exists. After all, if one begins
any new hobby or pastime, one will naturally spend less time on previous activities.
If one makes new networks of social relationships in any circumstance, it would
not be unusual to observe less time and attention spent on other acquaintances.
Time, after all, remains a constant. Other studies have attempted to directly
observe the impacts of Internet use on local communities.
|||
|
||| |
Allan Friedman
January, 2002