Internet users are more active participants in their groups than other adults, and are more likely to feel pride and a sense of accomplishment, according to a new survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The survey asked group members whether they had done several core activities with their group in the past 30 days, and internet users were significantly more likely to have done all of these activities.
Web Users Participate More Frequently
Specifically, 69% of internet users and 54% of non-users had attended meetings of a group they were active in during the past 30 days, a 28% difference. Internet users were also 36% more likely to volunteer their time to a group (64% compared to 47%), 79% more likely to take a leadership role (34% compared to 19%), and 20% more likely to contribute money (60% compared to 50%).
Overall, internet users were about 15% more likely to have performed at least one of these group activities in the past 30 days than non-users (82% compared to 71%).
Web Users More Likely to Join Groups
In addition to being more active in groups, Pew data also indicates internet users are more likely to join groups. The survey shows that 75% of all American adults are active in some kind of voluntary group or organization, with 80% of internet users and 56% of non-internet users participating in groups, And social media users are even more likely to be active: 82% of social network users and 85% of Twitter users are group participants.
Web Users More Satisfied with Participation
Perhaps reflecting their higher levels of participation, survey data indicates internet users are also more likely than non-users to say that in the past 12 months, they have felt really proud of a group they are active in because of something it accomplished or a positive difference it made (62% compared to 47%) and that they have accomplished something as part of a group that they could not have accomplished themselves (48% compared to. 35%).
Internet users and non-users are statistically equally likely to say that in the past 12 months they felt disappointed in a group they are active in because it failed to accomplish its goals or lacked purpose. Internet users are, however, slightly more likely to report leaving a group in the past 12 months.
Internet Seen Influencing Elections
Fifty-three percent of group members who had worked to get a candidate elected in the previous 12 months said the internet played a major role in the election. This was the highest percentage of group members who had achieved any specific goal in the previous 12 months who cited the internet as playing a major role.
Other group goals with a high percentage of members saying the internet played a major role include raising awareness about an issue (46%) and solving or changing an issue (38%).
6 in 10 SocNet Users Feel More Connected
Six in 10 (59%) of social network users say they feel more connected to people now than previously, according to a recent Harris Poll. That figure is highest among 18-to-34-year-olds (63%) and females (61%). Similar percentages (58% overall, 63% of 18-to-34-year-olds, 60% of females) say they keep in touch with friends more now than in the past.
