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London (pte019/07.03.2003/12:06) - The Internet has greatly changed the social lives of Europeans, according to a new study by AOL Europe http://www.aol.de .
The study describes the Web as a "virtual living room" for making social contacts, promoting close relationships among friends and relatives, as well as providing opportunities for making new friends.
"The Internet is changing the way we organize our social contacts, the way we come together and how we communication personal information," said Philip Rowley, chairman of the board and COO of AOL Europe.
The study looked at Internet use in Germany, Great Britain and France. Forty per cent of those questioned have arranged a date per e-mail and about one third have exchanged e-mail addresses before exchanging phone numbers. The phrase "sorry, I lost your e-mail address" has become a way of avoiding dates, and "please reply by e-mail" to an invitation was requested by 47 per cent of those surveyed (up to 57 per cent in Germany).
In addition to dating and social habits, the Internet has changed the way Europeans shop. About 28 per cent of participants admitted to carrying out their online shopping in their pyjamas or bathrobes, and said this was more relaxing than going into stores.
About 25 per cent of participants regularly listen to music on the Web and 45 per cent use the Internet for job-hunting. Up to 84 per cent occasionally or regularly communicate with friends or family through the Internet.
The study came to the conclusion that the Web is not just a "global village", but also a means of exploring one's immediate environment. An overwhelming majority of those questioned (79 per cent) used the Web to look up and then visit local events and offers.
About two thirds of parents believe the Internet will have a positive influence on their children (only one per cent believed it would be negative), and up to 70 per cent of all participants think it is important for children to develop their Web skills.
The study is based on a telephone survey of 500 people older than 18 carried out between 1 October and 24 November 2002.
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