Study: Internet Access Boosts Greater Wellbeing
Study: Internet Access Boosts Greater Wellbeing
The Facts
A study from the UK's Oxford Internet Institute (OII), which analyzed over 2.4M people globally from 2006-2021, found an 84.9% "positive and statistically significant" correlation between internet access and psychological well-being, compared to a 4.9% negative effect.
The OII, which analyzed people aged 15 and older, also found an 8.5% increase in life satisfaction for those with internet access, though the researchers noted that the results were not causal.
The Spin
Modern technology, like anything in life, needs to be used properly. What's most important when reviewing the happiest countries in the world is their high levels of wealth. The reason these (mostly Scandinavian) countries are happier is largely due to their robust social welfare and healthcare systems. The digital world should be explored cautiously not cited as the source of either happiness or discontent.
There are clearly parts of the digital world that are causing wealthy Western nations to suffer mentally. As more children have grown up online, particularly with smartphones, they've missed out on historically normal childhood experiences, such as in-person play. For example, the only American age group whose anxiety has decreased in recent years is those above 50, which says a lot about the iPhone generation.