With more people spending more time on the internet, what are people doing less of now?

Question

This is a hard question to phrase. Now that the internet can take up a lot of time in a persons life and with televisions having over 200 channels, is there something that these have replaced? Such as reading books or spending time with family. What are you thoughts?

Answer 1

Spending time with family and friends is taking a big hit. I know that from personal experience. We don't have time to help people that need help. I'm guilty of that too. Seems like humans are more rude now in public. I don't know if that's from less face to face contact or what.

Answer 2

Well, we've seen the rise of obesity as a growing problem with children and youth... and I'm sure that the internet, amongst other things has had a lot to do with that.

When I was a kid, I was outside all the time, even in the winter (when it was 20 below f. or colder). I was always exploring or playing ball, tobogganing or building push-carts... or something. I did a lot of physical things... and we probably didn't have a lot of the high-calorie junk that kids eat now either.

But I digress...

I think we were just a lot more active, and we also socialized more. I remember spending a lot of time talking with my friends. And now..., well, kids are as likely to go head to head in front of the video console. Not much real discussion going on there.

But it's not all bad news. Kids now are a lot better informed than we were.

Answer 3

The more time people spend on the Internet, the less time they spend outside being active. They sit in a comfy chair or at a desk for, sometimes, hours on end surfing the net, chatting with friends, and checking email. Even kids are picking up on this trend. So instead of playing tag or cops and robbers with the neighborhood kids, they get online and play Internet pool, or something of that nature.

Answer 4

Exercise, time with family, less interest in hobbies, less volunteering.

However, we have interent at home, work, at the local cafe, school, & even our cells so it's hard to say if it's usage is being broken into sections throughout the day or at one prolonged setting.

Also, technology has allowed us to do daily nominal tasks quicker and more efficiently than every before. Emails, cells, IMs, dishwashers, take out, day care, instant everything, robot vacuums, pet sitters, etc (you get the point).

So has the Internet taken up our time that the above technologies and services have afforded us or are they taking up time from other life essentials in spite of all available technologies and services?

Answer 5

My husband and I were watching that old show "Bonanza", with the father and 3 sons who live on the Ponderosa ranch. Anyway that is what we started talking about. What do they do in the evening. No TV, no computer, of course. What they did was play cards and play the harmonica and dance. Since I have had a computer I spend less time watching TV and reading books. But thats OK I find it much more interesting on the net.

Answer 6

Internet use (time spent on it) is insidious.
There are just so many hours in a day - and allocation of these hours to activities beyond the net are becoming fewer, all the time. The smart marketing folks are figuring this out, and beginning to create 'tv' concepts for the computer user. . . I'm just hoping that the net does not go the way of today's tv - - -
Used to be that one could 'receive' all programming for 'free' . . . then one day, that changed, and one had to pay cable/satellite providers for today's costly privelege.
Because it's all about making money? I'm fearful that in the not too distant future, net use will not be affordable, as tv reception is now. . .

Answer 7

I think Americans used to have longer work days, and come home to substantial work to do around the home. With modern technology a lot of free time became available... tv filled up that time and now the internet has taken time from the "tv time" Both watching the tv and surfing the web can become addictive and can take away valuable family time, work time, etc.

Answer 8

No doubt. Too sum this one up....human interaction.

I go out of my way to see people because I know the internet and TV consumes me.

I go IN the bank to make my deposits...I don't have to...but I do so I can talk to people.

I go out to lunch Monday thru Friday...so I can at least talk to a cashier or waitress.

So what am I leaving behind....dedication to yard work, personal hygene, dead animals (I forget to feed), my 4 year old highjacking the car and driving to friends house while I'm watching TiVo'ed version of Friends...while surfing the web about the OC...and listening to Led Zeppelin on my ipod.

You know...the usual.

Times are changing...I'm not.

Schwinnng.

Answer 9

I still Love reading....I use the net for Friends only..I have a lot around the world and in Iraq...this is the best place to keep in touch on a regular basis....I think its a good thing b/c i'm normally out shopping or spending money. I dont buy online, i dont like waiting to get what i want lol..

Answer 10

I spend less time watching TV. I think I read as much or more because I'm frequently reading stories and news stories on the net as well as actual books.