Survey also shows close to a third of adults of all ages in the country can’t last a full hour without the internet
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Paul Connell, CEO of Pure Telecom. Photo: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce.
Almost half of young adults in Ireland have said they would turn down a €5m cheque if it meant they could never use the internet again, a new survey has revealed.
Close to a third (29pc) of adults of all ages in the country couldn’t last a full hour without the internet when it comes to their personal lives, the poll also showed.
These figures are even higher for young adults aged between 18 and 24, as this age group in particular struggles to spend much time away from the internet and devices.
And nearly two in five (38pc) people in this age group said they couldn’t cope with a full hour without internet. Meanwhile, almost half (48pc) of this cohort said they would reject €5m in exchange for being cut off from the internet for ever.
The study also showed how the internet has changed human connections, how adults perceive relationships conducted online as valuable as in-person, and the central role the internet now plays in people’s lives. It comes as nearly half (48pc) of adults think that their online interactions feel just as meaningful as in-person ones.
Paul Connell, CEO of Pure Telecom. Photo: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce.
Meanwhile, more than three in five (61pc) credit the internet for improving their relationships with friends and family.
The annual Connected Lives survey, which studied the value of the internet on people’s lives, was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of the Irish-owned broadband and telecoms provider Pure Telecom.
The study surveyed 1,001 adults in the Republic of Ireland aged 18 and over.
Pure Telecom CEO Paul Connell said: “It’s only when we stop to think that we realise just how much we rely on the internet for our everyday lives and human connections.
“We are sending instant messages to friends, tracking workouts and watching TV – all online – so in that context, an hour can feel like a long time. In fact, our research found that one in 10 adults – more than 400,000 of us – couldn’t even make it beyond 15 minutes.”
The survey also showed how 74pc of broadband account holders shop around as the end of their contract approaches, while the same number believe annual broadband price increases by many providers should stop.
“The majority of our survey respondents (74pc) believe that broadband should be classed as a public utility,” Mr Connell said.