Chinese spend most leisure time online but Germans make most friends
Chinese internet users spend more of their leisure time online than those in the rest of the world according to an international study. But Germans were most likely to meet online friends in real life.
The study, conducted by market research firm TNS, explored the role of the internet in people’s leisure time and social life. It concluded that while internet use is a leisure activity in itself, and in some countries e-mail has overtaken face-to-face meetings as the main way to stay in touch with friends and family, the main social benefit of the internet is that it allows people to manage their lives more efficiently and make more time for other leisure activities.
The survey found that the average Chinese user spent 44 per cent of their leisure time online, more than any other country. (That doesn’t necessarily mean they spend more hours online: it’s possible Chinese users may have less leisure time to start off with.)
However, while housewives spent less time online than students or employees in China, the situation was reversed in Western nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
The study’s authors suggested this may be driven by housewives in the West spending more time using online grocery shopping services. While that may be true, it seems curious to classify grocery shopping as ‘leisure time’ for a housewife. (The report doesn’t note whether house husbands are included in this category.)
For those with internet access, it appears the web really has become a notable part of their lives. Of the top ten listed online activities, eight (including paying bills online, online banking and checking the weather) had been carried out by the majority of people over the previous month.
Across the 16 nations in the survey, 60% said they have encountered someone online and then gone on to meet in person. Germany topped this category with 76%, while only 40% had done so in China.
It’s important to note that this survey only covered existing internet users, so while it shows the effects of online activity on individuals, it’s not necessarily a guide to how the internet affects societies as a whole.
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