London, UK

Contrary to common belief, spending time online may actually contribute to greater wellbeing globally, according to new research. Professor Andrew Przybylski of the University of Oxford, co-author of the study, highlighted the significance of their analysis, which delved into the relationship between internet usage and wellbeing on a global scale. He noted the limitations of previous studies, which often focused on specific regions and age groups. Earlier research has predominantly centred on North America and Europe and primarily addressed concerns surrounding technology, especially its impact on young people.

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“It would be really good to be able to target advice and tools and regulation to protect young people in particular, but that evidence simply doesn’t exist in a way that would be useful for those ends,” Przybylski said.

Published in the journal Technology, Mind, and Behaviour, the study, co-authored by Dr Matti Vuorre of Tilburg University, analysed data collected from interviews spanning from 2006 to 2021.

This was a part of the Gallup World Poll and it involved interviewing approximately 1,000 individuals annually across 168 countries to gather data on a wide range of topics associated with one's well-being.

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The research encompassed a vast sample of over 2.4 million participants aged 15 and above. By employing over 33,000 statistical models, the researchers were able to explore associations between internet access and various measures of well-being. It looked into factors like income, education, health, and relationship status - all integral components of an individual's overall well-being as they play a unique role in shaping one's quality of life.

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For instance, higher income levels often afford access to resources that contribute to reduced stress, and education provides individuals with the opportunities necessary for increased satisfaction. 

What were the findings? 

The findings revealed a positive correlation between internet access, mobile internet use, and overall well-being. Out of the analysed associations, 84.9 per cent showed a positive correlation between internet use and wellbeing, with only 0.4 per cent exhibiting a negative association, and 14.7 per cent not statistically significant, media reports said. 

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While the study couldn't establish cause and effect relation, it did find that individuals with internet access reported 8.5 per cent higher levels of life satisfaction. However, the study did not delve into the duration or purpose of internet usage. 

(With inputs from agencies)