For some, losing access to the internet is a vacation from distraction. For others, it’s a nightmare. Interpret’s New Media Measure found that 66% of active social networkers feel “disconnected from the world” when they lose internet access. As more parts of our lives become ‘internet-enabled’, losing access to the world wide web becomes more and more stressful. For those who use more cutting edge social networks like Twitter and Foursquare, this feeling of disconnection is even more prevalent, according to Interpret’s Data Point of the Week. According to this data, Foursquare users are the most reliant on their internet connections, with 83% saying they feel disconnected without the internet, followed by over three-quarters (78%) of Twitter users.
This makes sense given the way users interact with Foursquare and Twitter. Foursquare’s gaming elements contribute additional stress to losing internet access because users can fall behind their friends on the leaderboard or even lose their title as ‘mayor’ of their favorite venues. Also, since Foursquare users have to check into venues on their mobile phones, losing internet access means their smartphones aren’t quite as smart. From personal experience, there is nothing more frustrating than having an iPhone without internet access. It’s like having a Ferrari that can’t shift above second gear.
Losing access to Foursquare this week was the first major outage that network has seen, but at this point, Twitter users are more than familiar with the fail whale. Twitter seems to have a service outage every time Evan Williams sneezes, but knowing it’ll happen eventually (and frequently) doesn’t lessen the feeling of anxiety when you’re cut off from your @replies and direct messages. One thing’s for certain though: every time we lose access to Twitter and Foursquare, it’s a stark reminder of just how important these social networks are becoming to the people who use them.
What do you think of these statistics? Is it troubling that people rely so heavily on technology to feel connected to the world around them? Have you tried going on a “digital diet” where you self-impose limits on the time you spend online? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section.