India sees epidemic of internet use as net addiction rises

A new survey out of India shows that a large portion of the population is addicted to internet access in one form or another.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The survey from Tata Communications shows that 86% of Indians fear that they are missing something when not connected to the web and another 56% have difficulty going on without internet access.

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More shockingly, 46% of Indian web users spend six hours or more on the internet, which is much higher than the global average of 29%.

A Connected World II report shows that India also has the most people who have a "fear of missing out" when not connected.

The report survived a group of 9,417 internet users across six different developed and developing countries-France, Germany, India, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom.

"Although surveyed Indian men spend more time on the internet than surveyed Indian women, it is Indian women (21 percent) who outdo men (16 percent) in feeling anxious or lost when not connected to the internet," the report revealed.

The study also reveals that televisions are rapidly being replaced by tablets and smartphones by Indians. 43% of Indians are willing to give up television for the internet, compared to just 17% of Americans and 22% of the Europeans.

"The internet has truly changed the way we function. As technologies evolve and adapt, there is a huge potential for the internet to affect different aspects of life, economy and society," said Julie Woods, Tata Communications's Nextgen Business chief marketing officer.

Around a third of the world's population are connected to the internet today, and that number is expected to rise.

The study by Tata Communications also reported that 61% of Indians believe that "everyone owns the internet" as opposed to the 70% who believe this globally.

This same study reveals that Asians appear to be the most "internet dependent." Less than half of those polled from Singapore or India are capable of lasting up to 12 hours without internet access, compared to 86% of Germans, 77% of French, 75% Americans, and 70% of U.K. respondents.

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