Internet loses novelty, becomes important tool

Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON: The Internet has lost its novelty for many US users but is

turning into an increasingly important tool for everyday living, according to a

study released on Sunday.

As Internet users gain more online experience, they reported a slight dip in

the length of the average online session -- from 90 minutes to 83 minutes over

the course of one year, the Pew Internet and American Life Project found.

But experienced users said they were more likely to use that time for

activities like working from home, checking bank-account balances and making

travel reservations, rather than simply browsing.

E-mail has lost its novelty as well, the survey found, as users said they

sent messages to distant friends and relatives less frequently. But users are

more likely to rely on the medium to express worries, ask for advice or send

other serious messages.

"The Internet has gone from novelty to utility for many Americans,"

said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew project. "They are beginning to take

it for granted, but they can't imagine life without it."

Many experienced users said the Internet modified their "offline"

behavior as well. One out of four said they spend less time watching television,

while nearly one in three who shop online said they have spent less time

shopping in "bricks and mortar" stores as a result.

Internet users were more likely to bring their work home with them, the study

found. Fourteen per cent of those surveyed said the computer network increased

the amount of time spent working from home, while five per cent said their work

at home had decreased.

The survey did not find a dramatic increase in telecommuting, as only six per

cent said they spent less time in traffic because of their Internet use. That

figure jumped to 30 per cent for those who said they worked more from home.

Unwanted junk e-mail, or "spam," led the list of complaints, with

44 per cent saying it was a problem. More than half said they had received an

e-mail with pornographic content.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project tracked 1,501 Internet users

over the course of a year, from March 2000 to March 2001. The survey has a

margin of error of plus or minus four per cent.