27 January 2006
The Internet is helping support communities and individuals, as well as shaping the choices we make in life, suggests new research.
A US-based think tank, Pew Internet, has found that at least 45 per cent Americans turn to the Internet for advice in times of need.
After researching into the role of the web in people's lives, it concluded that the web and email actually helped strengthen communities and friendship groups.
Its conclusions are slightly contradictory to the usual suggestions that our love of email is diminishing the role and importance of real human contact.
The report suggests that Internet communications enhance existing ways of communicating rather than replacing them.
It found that as our family and friend networks dissipate and spread across the world, the Internet is helping us maintain relationships.
"You can't make phone calls or personal visits to all your friends very often, but you can 'cc' them regularly with a couple of keystrokes.
That turns out to be very important," said Jeffrey Boase, one of the report's authors.
The report found that at least 21 million Americans used the web to get further career training.
About 17 million accessed the web to deal with major health problems and ten million used it to find a new house or flat.
The web also played a key role in other major life choices such as changing jobs, managing finances or choosing a school.
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