A 16-year global program study1 of 2.4 million people found that internet use could improve measures of well-being, such as life satisfaction and feeling of purpose, challenging the commonly held idea that Internet use has negative effects on the well-being of individuals.
“This is an important piece of the puzzle about digital media use and mental health,” says psychologist Markus Appel of the University of Würzburg in Germany. “If social media, the internet and cell phone use are truly such a devastating force in our society, we should see it in this overview (study) – but we don’t.” These concerns are usually linked to behaviors related to social media use, such as cyberbullying, social media addiction, and body image issues. But the best studies so far have shown small, if any, negative effects.2,3of Internet use on well-being, Appel says.
From separate Gallup polls:
Pryzbylski and his colleagues analyzed data on how Internet access was linked to eight measures of well-being Gallup World Poll, conducted by the analysis company Gallup, based in Washington DC. Data was collected annually from 2006 to 2021 from 1,000 people aged 15 and over, in 168 countries, through telephone or in-person interviews. The researchers controlled for factors that might affect Internet use and well-being, including income level, employment status, education level and health conditions.
…The team found that on average, people with access to the Internet scored 8% higher in life satisfaction, positive experiences, and satisfaction with their social lives, compared to to people who do not have access to the Internet. Online activities can help people learn new things and make friends, which could contribute to the beneficial effects, suggests Appel.
It’s worth noting that in these latest data sets, women aged 15-24 fare even worse when it comes to internet access.
Here is the Nature roomvia Clara B. Jones.
