If you spend a lot of time on the Web you already know this, but a new study from eMarketer has found that people behave much differently online than offline.
According to the research, originally conducted by by Euro RSCG Worldwide, “cyberdisinhibition” has caused 43% of U.S.-based Web users to feel less inhibited online. This effect “is most prominent among females and users ages 25 to 54.”
About 20% of adults have used social media to lash out at brands and companies, while 31% feel empowered by the medium to do something they’ve been wanting to do. And social networks are a big help for meeting new people.
Men’s inhibitions seem to be more affected then women’s, as men appear to leverage Web and social-media anonymity more:
eMarketer’s report also underscores an interesting change in the way people prefer to communicate. Almost 49% of respondents said they find electronic communication to be more convenient than the face-to-face variety:
I was happy to learn that almost 58% of respondents said they disagree with the statement that “online socializing is for sad, antisocial types.” What a relief!
How has the Internet changed your behavior? Please share your experience in the comments.
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