Researchers see religious tendencies in Internet use
Published: Thursday, Nov 16th 2023, 10:00
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Internet use among young Swiss people fulfills similar functions to a religion. According to a new study, it is ritualistic, linked to mythological ideas and leads to superhuman experiences.
This was the conclusion reached by researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) following a representative survey of internet users, as the university announced on Thursday.
Like traditional religions, the everyday use of digital services fulfills functions such as reducing complexity, creating meaning and social cohesion, according to the report.
According to the survey, around a third of the population (30 percent) also think that suggested content on social networks or health and wellbeing apps is controlled by an inexplicable higher authority. Around a quarter of the population (27%) start and end the day with internet use, the report showed. Between ten and 19 percent of internet users reported transcendental experiences that transcend the usual boundaries of everyday life.
According to the report, the evidence of a digital everyday religion is more pronounced among younger people. Four in ten (38%) of 14 to 19-year-olds said in the survey that regular use of these services helped them to rise above their immediate circumstances. Over a third (36%) of this group agreed that using their favorite digital services gave them peace of mind.
More time online
The findings are part of the World Internet Project (WIP). This long-term study records the spread and use of the internet in 30 countries. In Switzerland, the surveys have been conducted annually since 2011.
It also revealed differences in the amount of time Swiss people spend online. According to the report, this has increased significantly since the Covid pandemic. On average, people in Switzerland now spend around 5.5 hours a day online, compared to 4.5 hours in 2021. Private meetings, on the other hand, rarely take place online to the same extent as before the pandemic.
Artificial intelligence has arrived
Another finding of the survey was that artificial intelligence is already widespread in Switzerland. Eight out of ten internet users (79%) have already heard of chatbots with artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT or Bard. Half of them (37%) have already tried them out or used them. "The high level of awareness and use of ChatGPT and similar AI applications is surprising, especially since they have only been available since the end of 2022," emphasizes study director Michael Latzer in the press release.
Cyborg technologies, such as patches for electronic stimulation of the brain or chips implanted in the hand for payment, are hardly widespread in Switzerland, according to the study. However, one in ten people (9 percent) stated that they would like to use cyborg technologies attached to their body as soon as they are available and affordable.
Overall, according to the report, younger people and men are the most optimistic about these technologies. According to the study, younger people are also more convinced that the new digital technologies can solve almost all of society's problems. Around 21% of 14 to 19-year-olds and 4% of over 70-year-olds believe this.
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