“Using the Internet at home doesn’t make people more depressed and lonely after all,” says an article in USA Today refuting the findings of an earlier study. Oops!
Most of the “detrimental effects” have been overcome, they say.
I remember reading the first research study and wondering, because the Internet has enriched my life in every way possible, and I’m probably more introverted than extraverted.
On the Internet I can learn continually (the key to resilience), stay connected with loved ones and clients, conduct my Internet-driven business, enjoy the fantastic art, previously not accessible, music . what on earth could be “detrimental” about being on the Internet? Does someone have a problem with information, connection, enrichment, enlightenment and entertainment for pennies?
Well, I’m sure there’s someone misusing it somehow, but they’re just using a new tool for an old habit.
There’s no one who loves research and data more than I; I’m an empirically-based and academically credentialed coach, but this is a great example of using your common sense, or emotional intelligence.
When some research finding doesn’t make sense to you, go back over it (it may be worded funny), and give equal weight to your own experiential understanding of the world. As Jeffrey Cole, director of the UCLA Center for Communication Policy says, “the [original] findings on introverts are counterintuitive, “referring to the study by Robert Kraut, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon. What he’s saying is, it didn’t make sense to him when he read it either.
I checked with an expert on introverts, Introvert Coach, Nancy R. Fenn, who also coaches intuition. “The Internet was invented just for introverts!” she says. “Introverts process information best through reading. Unlike extroverts, they don’t need to hear themselves say something out loud in order to learn it. Introverts are great listeners, readers and writers.”
“When you use your intuition,” Nancy says, “there’s no need to get external substantiation; in fact it’s a waste of time. Come from within. Know what you know.”
Counterintuitively, I think if the Internet depresses anyone it’s extraverts. My client, James, who’s quite an extrovert would rather get on a plane and go meet with someone fact-to-face, than “waste time on the computer” which he calls “letting my day slip away.”
Want to know if you’re an introvert or extravert? Go here for free introvert extravert quiz: http://www.susandunn.cc/assessments.htm.
Susan Dunn, MA, Marketing Coach,
http://www.webstrategies.cc. Marketing consultation,
implementation, website review, SEO optimization, article
writing and submission, help with ebooks and other
strategies. Susan is the author or How to Write an eBook
and Market It on the Internet. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc
for information and free ezine. Specify Checklist.
