Computer Nerds Volunteer—Religiously: The stigma that heavy Internet usage creates lonely, reclusive people blogging in a dark room may require rethinking. Web users, and especially social networkers, are more likely to be active in volunteer organizations than those who don’t go online, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. Key findings include:
• Of all Web users surveyed, 80% participate in groups versus 56% of those who don’t use the Internet. On social networks, it’s slightly higher, and on Twitter in particular, 85% are active in groups.
• Facebook, employed by 62% of Internet users, was the most popular digital networking tool used by groups—much more so than Twitter, used by 12% of Internet users. Of those respondents active in groups, 48% had a page on a social networking site, while 30% of respondents had their own blog and 16% communicated with other group members via Twitter.
• Internet users are more active participants in their groups than other adults, and are more likely to feel pride and a sense of accomplishment about their group’s activities.
• Also, based on the survey’s results, the notion that today’s perpetually connected culture is exorcising religion may be flawed. Heavy Internet users are slightly more likely to go to church or participate in organized spiritual or religious functions than people who aren’t online. PRN
Source: Pew Research Center