America's View of the Internet

Alien54 writes "It won't make you dinner or rub your feet, but nearly one in four Americans say that the Internet can serve as a substitute for a significant other for some period of time, according to a new poll released today by 463 Communications and Zogby International. The poll examined views of what role the Internet plays in people's lives and whether government should play a greater role in regulating it. The online survey was conducted Oct. 4-8, 2007, included 9,743 adult respondents nationwide, and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.0 percentage point. From the results blog post: 'More than half of Americans believe that Internet content such as video should be controlled in some way by the government. Only 33% of 18 to 24 year-olds supported government stepping in on content, while 72% of those over 70 years of age support government regulation and ratings. More than one in four Americans has a social networking profile such as MySpace or Facebook. Among 18-24 year-olds, it's almost mandatory - 78% of them report having a social networking profile. Americans may love the Internet, but most are not prepared to implant it into their brain, even if it was safe. Only 11% of respondents said they be willing to safely implant a device that enabled them to use their mind to access the Internet.'"

Well, it is communication.

[Penguinisto]

Problem is, it isn't face-to-face communication.

Sure, you can keep in touch with lots of other people online, but when the (typical) user's entire social interaction is reduced to impassioned debates, downloading pr0n, FPS games, pissing off people on the other side of the planet with sophomoric trolling, and the whole time bullshitting about who you are and what you do in RL?

Gah - almost makes one fear for Humanity's future.

/P

Re:11%

[weirdcrashingnoises]

If it was safe for implanting AND safe from hacking, then i'd say sign me up, but i doubt that second part is possible.

Obligatory link

[Spy der Mann]

OUTSIDE [photobucket.com]
The new MMORPG from the creators of the smashing hit "IRL" [wikipedia.org]
FEATURES:

• no monthly fee!
• massive world to explore
• incredible NPC AI
• over 56,400 character archetypes
• fully PvP
• highest resolution graphics

Get Outside NOW!!!

Why is it always the old folks?

[kabocox]

Why is the always the old guys that are about to die off that enact or get crap passed so that all the rest of us living have to do what they want! If anything, I'd like the vote to be removed from those that retire or above 70 as they are too old and out of date to make decisions for the future. Heck, those under 12 are more likely to make valid decisions for the future since they'll have to live in it.

Re:Brain implants?

[MyNymWasTaken]

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale

Too Much Government Power

[CodeBuster]

I am always dismayed, not surprised mind you but dismayed, at the willingness of my fellow American citizens to willingly surrender ever greater powers of control and surveillance even without any clear idea of what is presumably gained by giving up those rights and powers. There are already too many laws, and too much government power, and too much government control and yet people want to give up even more of their independence to the government. The problem is exacerbated, IMHO, by the busy body nature of the religious right, liberal tax and spend left, and generally older people who want the government to run their lives for them and for their neighbor (regardless of what their neighbor wants).

My view of the internet...

[ackthpt]

In the 1800's the family dined at the dinner table.

In the 1940's the family dined around the radio.

In the 1960's the family dined around the television.

In the 2000's the family dines around the computer monitor.

Re:Why is it always the old folks?

[Itchyeyes]

Have you talked to a 12 year old recently? I barely trust them enough to mow my lawn. The thing is, the reason that the old people pass all the laws is because they are the ones who turn up to vote. If more young people would show up at the polls they would be better represented in our government. The very fact that they don't show up seems to me as evidence that they are in fact less capable of making those decisions.

Re:More than half of americans want gov parenting!

[fredklein]

Why is it always the OLD folks who want to do stuff 'for the children'? Is alzheimer's that severe in our aging population that they have totally forgotten what it's like to be a child?

Umm...online poll?

[sully_51]

one in four Americans say that the Internet can serve as a substitute for a significant other for some period of time, according to a new poll released today by 463 Communications and Zogby International. The poll examined views of what role the Internet plays in people's lives and whether government should play a greater role in regulating it. The online survey was conducted Oct. 4-8, 2007, included 9,743 adult respondents nationwide

Am I the only one who questions the accuracy of an online survey that indicates this?

Re:Well, it is communication.

[crabpeople]

How do you know the people you meet in real life are who they say they are?

"the whole time bullshitting about who you are and what you do in RL?"

Clearly your not into the bar scene.

Re:11%

[stormguard2099]

safe from hacking

I'm more worried about upgrading. I don't want to have to get surgery every month just to stay "leet"

Re:polls, democracy and republics

[Anonymous Coward]

Repeat after me:

America is not a country!
America is not a country!
America is not a country!

Re:11%

[cheater512]

I'd be demanding the source code first but I'd love it if it was effectively a keyboard, massive iMax style monitor and the most powerful surround sound system on the planet.
You cant hack any of the above so its relatively safe.

Oh and a off switch of course.

Re:Why is it always the old folks?

[Anonymous Coward]

Trusting in old people was wise when 'old' meant 30+.