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Addicted to the net

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Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

More than three quarters of Brits say that they cannot live without the internet according to a new YouGov poll for 118118 (03-09-08).

The study revealed that 44 per cent of people feel frustrated when they’re left unconnected and some even claimed that surfing the internet was their top hobby; a further 27 per cent reported rising stress levels when their internet was down.

Psychologist Dr David Lewis, who monitored the research, said: “The proliferation of broadband has meant for the first time in history we have entered a culture of ‘instant answers’ - a galaxy of information is just a mouse click away and we have become addicted to the web.”

More than half of the 2,100 people questioned said that a “broken” internet connection would be worse than a lack of essential amenities such as gas, water and electricity.

Similar numbers claimed that their internet connection was more important than religion to them, with slightly more than a quarter spending more than four hours a day online.

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “As broadband costs have fallen and accessibility has increased, the internet has become an amenity rather than a luxury.

“We use email, search engines, google maps and even Facebook so much now that the internet has become a vital element in our day-to-day lives, not to mention in the running of a business or for keeping in touch with friends and family,” he concluded.

Related article - Cheap broadband.

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