Hardly anyone is suggesting abandoning the internet, though it’s probably not a bad thing for communicators and marketers, whose professional lives often revolve around digital communications, to appreciate the declining percentage of people who feel the internet is good for society.
Again, avoid the panic button: 70% of U.S. adults continue to believe the internet has been good for society, although that group is declining, as the chart summarizing the Pew survey shows. Had the survey been conducted this month as opposed to January, that share might be lower than 70% given the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica headlines.
Also note the left side of the graphic, which shows 88% of people feel the internet has been good for them personally.
Those who think the internet has been good for society point to two main reasons: the internet makes information much easier and faster to access (62%); and the net’s ability to connect people and keep families closer (23%).
Those who feel the internet has been bad for society cite many reasons. 25% said the internet isolates people because they spend too much time online. Fake news was the culprit for 16%; 14% cited its effect on children; and 13% said it encourages illegal activity.
