Report finds 1 in 3 college students believe Internet to be as important as air, water
In a tech-savvy world, the Internet and social media are important tools in everyday life, so important that people may become very reliant on them.
One of three college students consider the Internet to be as important as human resources such as air, water, food and shelter, according to the second annual Cisco Connected World Technology Report released Sept. 21. Two of five respondents said the Internet was more important to them than dating, going out or listening to music, according to the report.
Cisco has become the worldwide leader in networking by transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate, according to the company’s website.
These statistics, among others, have helped provide insight into the mind and behavior of the world’s next generation of workers and how they will influence business communications. InsightExpress, a third-party market research firm, conducted the study. It was based on a survey of 2,800 college students and professionals 30 years old and younger in 14 countries, according to the report.
Anthony Rotolo, an assistant professor of practice in Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, specializes in social media such as Twitter and uses it in his classes.
‘Today’s college students have grown up never knowing a world where the Internet was not available to access and share information,’ Rotolo said in an email.
Media-savvy students have come to expect that content can be delivered to them through networks like Twitter and Facebook, he said.
‘With the Internet so integrated in our lives,’ Rotolo said, ‘it is no surprise that many students believe this is an important resource.’
AJ Senaydin, a junior photo illustration and information technology major, said he thinks the Internet is fundamentally important, but that society has become dependent on it.
‘We would pretty much crash if we didn’t have it anymore,’ Senaydin said. ‘I can’t picture college life without the Internet.’
Senaydin also said although he thought the Internet helped with meeting people, it couldn’t take the place of real human interaction.
Jill Gonyea, a sophomore health and exercise science major, said she thinks social media is not as necessary as natural resources, but is something she checks often.
She said she uses the Internet to access a large array of databases and is fundamental for research purposes.
Gonyea said she thought the dating statistic, which said two of five college students think the Internet is more important than socializing, is pathetic.
‘I don’t understand why anyone would rather stay and sit on the Internet than go out and interact with actual people,’ she said. ‘If we stay in, it’s not because of social media.’
Social media has also become more prevalent in the classroom. The Cisco study said while doing homework and projects, more than four out of five college students were interrupted by social media updates at least once in a given hour.
Said Gonyea: ‘With cellphones, the good side is that it’s easy to get a hold of you, but the bad side is that it’s easy to get a hold of you.’
Published on October 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Contact Maddy: mjberner@syr.edu
