Going on the Internet is so important to its wired Gen Y users today that they rate it as something as essential and basic as air, food, water and shelter, according to a report released late last week.
A third of a group of about 2,800 youths told a survey conducted by networking vendor Cisco earlier this year that they considered the Internet as important as some of the most basic needs for survival. More than half of them said they could not live without the Internet, citing it as something that was “integral” to their everyday lives.
The findings are part of the second annual Cisco Connected World Technology Report, which surveyed college students and young professionals in 14 different countries, including the United States, Brazil, India and Australia, in May and June this year.
Besides showing how tethered these young users between 18 and 29 were, the survey also highlighted interesting facts about social media, the use of mobile devices, and the privileging of the Internet over other material luxuries.
Four out of five of those polled consider the Internet to be “vitally important” and part of their “daily life’s sustenance”. Up to 62 per cent say they cannot live without the Internet, and 40 per cent would rather hang out on the Internet than go on dates or hang out with friends.
Interestingly, more than one in four college students globally (27 per cent) said staying updated on Facebook was more important than partying, dating, listening to music, or hanging out with friends, according to the study done between May and June 2011.
And Mark Zuckerberg must be feeling real good- 91 per cent of college students and 88 per cent of employees globally said they have a Facebook account. Of those, 81 percent of college students and 73 per cent of employees check their Facebook page at least once a day.
The costs of productivity can be hefty though. College students tend to be interrupted at least once per hour due to online media. The prevalence of social media has also blurred the line between work and private life, with 66 per cent of employees who use Twitter follow either their bosses or colleagues.
For the full details of the study, hit up http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns1120/index.html
