Relaxing to the Internet

The Internet as a Diversion

Introduction to a Pew Internet and American Life report

Three-quarters of online economic users go online to relax and take their minds off of the recession

Online economic users under the age of 30 are especially likely to turn to the internet as a diversion, although a range of age groups take part in these activities. Going online to relax is a near-universal activity among online economic users, regardless of whether they have been personally impacted by the recession or not. Those who use the internet as a diversion also are highly engaged in other online activities related to the economic recession.

When asked whether they used the internet to relax and help get their minds off of the recent economic or financial problems, three-quarters (74%) of online economic users said they had done so.

Listening to music and watching online videos are among the most common of the activities we evaluated; roughly half of all online economic users have done each of these activities to relax.

Approximately one-third of online economic users have played online games or chatted with friends (on a social networking site, listserv or other online group), while an additional 22% have taken their minds off of their economic or financial circumstances by creating or posting content online.

Many online economic users turn to the internet as a diversion; however, these individuals engage in a wide range of more serious online pursuits as well. For example, fully 76% of those who have gone online to relax or take their minds off of the economy have also gone online to find the lowest price on something they need to buy.

Additionally:

46% of online economic users who go online as a diversion have also gone online to find or use online coupons.

26% have sold personal items on an online auction site.

15% have signed up online for automatic updates about economic or financial issues, and an additional 15% have tagged or categorized online content related to economic or financial issues.

13% have shared photos, videos or audio files about economic or financial issues.

These individuals are also active in posting their own original online content: 10% of those who go online as a diversion have posted their comments about the recession in an online discussion group or other online forum, and 9% have done so on a blog (their own or someone else’s).