This month the World Wide Web, a.k.a the Internet, will turn 25. The web was crated back in 12 March, 1989, by Tim Berners-Lee. Initially, it served only as a system for transferring data. However, over the years, a number of technology experts and scientists have added and improved its capabilities. And now, 25 years later, the World Wide Web has hundreds of millions of users all over the world.
To mark anniversary of the Internet, Pew Research Center released a report on the way the web is affecting various aspects of our lives. The findings are quite interesting and insightful.
Most of the people who participated in the survey (90%) believe that the Internet has a positive effect on their lives. In comparison, barely 6% view it as something negative and just 3% see that it has its good and bad sides.
In addition, the World Wide Web has become an essential part of many people’s lives. The study has found that the Internet enjoys the highest popularity among consumers, when it comes to technological innovations. According to the report, for example, more than half of all the respondents think that it would be almost impossible for them to give up the Internet. In comparison, eight years ago, less than 40% of users thought in a similar way.
Cells phones are the gadget that people find it hardest to live without (49%). Of course, this is probably due to the fact that smartphones are one of the most popular devices for web browsing today.
The result of these two trends is a huge decline in the popularity of TVs and landline telephones. While the amount of consumers who found it hard to give up television in 2006 was equal to 44%, today it is barely 35%. Similar is the case with landline phones. The decline with them was from 48% in 2006 to 28% in 2014.
But why do we find the web connection so important? The survey has provided answers for this question too. The majority of users (60%) shared that staying away from the Internet would be impossible because it is an essential part of their job. However, about 30% of all the respondents stated that giving up the web would be hard simply because they love to spend time online.
The report also points out one of the biggest benefits of the Internet – strengthening relationship and connecting people. Nearly 70% of web users believe that online communication with friends and family can improve those relationships. Less than 20% think that the World Wide Web has a negative effect on communication.
