Brits suffer from discomgoogolation

Davey Winder
Wednesday, 03 September 2008 18:07

Business IT - Networking

New research suggests that the British are becoming increasingly addicted to the Internet. So much so that discomgoogolation has been identified as a major new cause of stress by one psychologist...

It would appear, according to new research just published, that the British addiction to all things Internet is hitting new and dangerous levels.

Indeed, growing numbers of Brits are now suffering from increased stress levels when unable to get their online fix.

Psychologist Dr David Lewis, working with a YouGov study of more than 2000 British Internet users, discovered that some 76 percent of them readily admitted that they could not live without the Internet.

When it came to feeling frustrated and confused if unable to get online, well that sums up the feelings of 44 percent of Brits.

27 percent, meanwhile, admitted to increased stress levels which was also reflected in clinical monitoring of their heart rates and brainwave activity with EEG technology while attempting to get online.

Dr Lewis wraps this all up within his newly identified phenomena of discomgoogolation. He defines this as being the "feeling of distress or anxiety when unable to gain immediate information access." I call that impatience, but never mind.

Discomgoogolation, Dr Lewis contends, is impacting upon even casual British users who have become entirely dependent upon the Internet as their primary source of information.

"The proliferation of Broadband has meant for the first time in history we have entered a culture of instant answers" Dr Lewis explains, adding "when unable to get online, Discomgoogolation takes over."

He does admit to being surprised to see the sheer levels of stress this led to with "brain activity and blood pressure in participants both increased in response to being cut off from the internet."

How many Brits thought the Internet was more important than religion, exercise and friendship? Find out on page 2...

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