Research Team from Oxford University Analyzes Internet-Wellbeing Relationship
"Internet Connectivity Increases Life Satisfaction" Conclusion
While the belief that the internet generally has harmful effects is widespread, new research has found that internet use is actually positively related to well-being.
On the 12th (local time), the British daily The Guardian reported that a research team from the University of Oxford in the UK and Tilburg University in the Netherlands published a paper containing these findings in the academic journal Technology, Mind and Behaviour (TMB), issued by the American Psychological Association.
The research team analyzed data created from interviews conducted annually with about 1,000 participants aged 15 and older from 168 countries through the international polling organization Gallup World Poll between 2006 and 2021, involving approximately 2.4 million people. The team analyzed participants' responses on eight well-being measures?including internet access and use, life satisfaction, social life, life purpose, and community welfare?using over 33,000 statistical models.
As a result, a positive correlation of 84.9% was found between internet connectivity and well-being. Negative correlations accounted for only 0.4%, and 14.7% showed no statistically significant correlation. The research team also reported that people connected to the internet had life satisfaction scores 8.5% higher.
Andrew Przybylski, a professor at Oxford University and co-author of the study, explained, "This study is significant as the first international research to examine the relationship between internet and mobile internet access, regular internet use, and happiness." He also pointed out, "Previous studies were limited because they focused on North America and Europe and mainly examined concerns about the impact of technologies like the internet on young people."
Professor Przybylski also addressed the intense debate over the potential impact of the internet, especially social networking services (SNS), on well-being. He said, "Policies regarding technology must be based on evidence," adding, "Strong existing beliefs and one-size-fits-all solutions alone cannot create a safer online world for young people."
However, Dr. Shweta Singh of the University of Warwick refuted the study’s findings, stating that safe internet or harmless SNS do not yet exist. Citing reports of increased sexual exploitation cases of Canadian teenage boys via the internet, Dr. Singh said, "I sincerely hope the study’s findings are true overall, but unfortunately, there is a lot of evidence and claims that they are not necessarily so."
The debate over the effects of internet and smartphone use on emotional and cognitive abilities continues. Some researchers criticize the internet and SNS for negatively impacting mental and physical health, while technology companies argue that they actually enhance cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, and creativity.
In South Korea, research has shown that elementary school students who use SNS extensively tend to have lower 'physical self-esteem.' According to the paper "The Relationship Between Media Use and Physical Self-Esteem Among Elementary School Students Before and After COVID-19" (corresponding author Jeong Ikjung), published in the recent issue of Health and Social Welfare Review by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in February, elementary students who use SNS more have lower physical self-esteem. Physical self-esteem refers to one’s perception, evaluation, and attitude toward their body and appearance.
The study analyzed children aged 12 to 13, who are in the upper grades of elementary school.
The researchers categorized participants into three types based on media use behavior: 'information-seeking' who mainly use media for learning and information searching; 'entertainment-seeking' who use media for games and entertainment; and 'relationship-seeking' who primarily use SNS such as Facebook, KakaoTalk, and Instagram. Among these, there was no correlation between information-seeking or entertainment-seeking media use and physical self-esteem scores, but a negative correlation was found between relationship-seeking media use and physical self-esteem. In other words, the more SNS use, the more negatively children perceive their body, including height and appearance.
The paper warned, "On SNS, activities such as posting photos, sharing, and liking?known as 'social grooming'?are active, and there is a tendency to idealize certain body types and justify appearance comparisons. Adolescents tend to be overly conscious of others’ views and are greatly influenced by media such as the internet. Negative physical self-esteem during adolescence can lead to problems such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders."
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