Broadband Users Know More, Not Important Stuff, Study Says

[Kadie]

Broadband Users Know More, Not Important Stuff, Study Says

POSTED: 1:47 pm EDT September 20, 2004

People who use a fast Internet access also tend to be more social than those who use the dial-up method, a University of Michigan study shows.

Broadband users, however, are no more engaged than dial-up users in discussions about important political developments.

These findings suggest high-speed Internet tends to facilitate interpersonal interaction, mostly in non-political social settings, said Nojin Kwak, the study's author.

Broadband users are more likely to know about entertainment or politically non-substantive areas, such as the personal lives of celebrities and personal scandals of politicians, the study found. There is no difference, however, between broadband and narrowband users in their knowledge about such matters as international conflicts and the political system, Kwak said.

"Overall, dial-up modem users are more interactive with others and knowledgeable about current affairs than nonusers of the Internet," Kwak said. "But despite its increased speed and a greater opportunity to utilize political resources on the Internet, broadband Internet doesn't seem to be more effective than narrowband Internet in fostering politically active citizens, while its added benefits in entertainment and social areas are clear."

more...
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/technology/3745153/detail.html

:eyes:

[mrboba1]

1. More not important stuff? Nah...

Ooh - did you know the guests at Britney's wedding dined on chicken fingers and ribs to the accompaniment of music on a boombox?

:silly: