Society saved by the social network: ANUpoll

Increased use of the Internet is leading to a more politically engaged and socially inclusive society, according to the latest ANUpoll. The latest ANUpoll, released today - The Internet and Civil Society - shows that far from increasing social isolation because users are in front of a computer screen, the Internet is actually having a positive effect on civil society. In the lead up to the roll out of the National Broadband Network, the report takes a snapshot of Internet usage in Australia including how many households have Internet access, how often people use the Internet and what they use it for. Some of the findings from ANUpoll include: ;  Frequent Internet use is helping people with social interaction. For example, 54 per cent of respondents said that the Internet helped them interact with people from other countries. ;  Increased Internet usage is not leading to a more individualistic society. For example, 70 per cent of those who use the Internet more than once a day felt that to be a good citizen it was very important to support people who are worse off than themselves.