Working in advertising, I can’t imagine a life without Internet. And in the process of moving cities recently, any time I spent without a fast connection nearby gave me panic attacks. Seriously. So this BusinessWeek article about Internet growth and resistance is fascinating to me.
Many people are non-Netizens for obvious reasons. They can’t afford service or live in remote areas without hope of affordable connections. And some are past the age when they want to adopt new technology. Says Jeanette Lamar, 92: “I’m too old to start that stuff.” But the spectrum of naysayers also includes millions of well-off, educated, and younger professionals. Of the survey respondents who say they don’t use the Web, 24% make more than $50,000. Some 39% of the Netphobes attended or graduated college or have at least some associate degree training. And 29% are 44 years old or younger. “It’s not just everyone’s grandmother who is avoiding the Internet,” says John C. Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates.
Obviously, advertising and marketing agenices need the Web to conduct business. And every one of them is rushing headlong to make sure campaigns are integrated on the Net, and hiring accordingly. So is there anything to this BusinessWeek article? Is it even possible to live an Internet-free existance? I simply can’t conceive of it, though I’d sure like to know how people cut down their usage of it.