Program: Is the Internet Eating Me?

Thanks for offering the e meeting!

Things changes and people must adapt...the social networking is an amazing phenomenon and just part of the cultural landscape. It is too bad that in some families social time might be suffering.

I use the internet for specific thisngs only-not for entertainment. However my three boys use the internet for almost everything they do in life. What a change we are going through.

None

Interesting statistics regarding the internet, the percentage who use the internet and the number of people over 65 on the net.

Very informative

Interesting to learn that internet users do more volunteer work than non-users.

The content was very interesting. My rating was a 28 for addiction - pretty low. I found the pictures and online personas to be very interesting. People can creat a whole new identity online, which can be very scary. I guess you would say that there are a lot of alter egos out there. Some of the school districts are now using computers and the internet soley at there schools instead of books. I wonder what the impact of that is going to be. The fact of the matter is that MODERATION is the key

I am resending this make-up because I'm not sure it went through yesterday.

Great info that I would not have seen

I really enjoyed the story abut the puppies!

Interesting program. I would have liked it if a few more conclusions were drawn vs. a presentation of facts.

Thanks Carol, my son had 2 allographs & hopes to be off crutches in a year. I couldn't get back to program after the test.???

Enjoyed reading this article.

None

The intenet is here to stay. It will be our own personal resposibility to maintain social interactions, and to verify the truth in what we view.

Different.

Interesting Program

I found the material very interesting as well as enlightening.

Educational and humorous!

Great information on the internet. I believe that we all get so involved in our everyday business that this carries over into our homes. This in turn has a negative affect on our families. Again, great information and great meeting.

Very informative

I got kicked-off and then returned. This was a great meeting because I am on the internet several hours each week. This program was a review of a program presented by Dr. Jeffrey Cole in Colorado Springs. Basically, it presented the results of an annual study of 2,000 internet users. And the overall purpose is to see what their habits are. Is the internet unhealthy? Are we spending too much time on it and not enough socializing personally with people or kids going outside instead of inside on the computer. Unfortunately, the stats were smudged and therefore I could not really tell, for example, how many hours on average do those surveyed use the internet per month? Several internet sites were given which I visited and found interesting. The program made the point that newspapers need to become more digital because people are not reading the printed newspaper and are cancelling their subscription. I see that happening today, but am sad because I love to read the newspaper and read two of them each day. But, I know that newspaper readers like me are fading away in the next generation. Very good program.

very good interesting information

Forty Two hours a week on the internet -is that really true

This was great information

I looks like printed newspapers are going out, that is too bad.

Very informative with so much potential for reaching rotarians encompassing all sectors.

None

Thanks for this very interesting article!

Very interesting information. It's amazing at the people who are definitely addicted to the internet. I see it everywhere!

good content

nice presentation

Thanks for the data on issues my wife and I have been discussing. Media, like spice, should be used to add flavor to our life experience, not become the meal itself.

I like this format better than eclub1. It is more like a real meeting.

I am fascinated by the time spent in cyber space>

good program

Very interesting how ther Internet is changing our lives. Especially in policitics and commerence. Interesting how people preceove themselves and select their game role playing characters.

Thanks Steph .. a well done program. Mel

This is my first meeting and I am pleased with the content and format.

I really enjoyed this topic bc it is all relevant to our lives.

Loved Hunch.com

Interesting, I probably underestimate the hours spend on line.

Fascinating Program - being able to go through the program at my own speed and slow down when I want or speed past the photos when I wanted is a big advantage. This is my first e-meeting.

excellent program!

I am receiving some pressure to join Facebook, which I continue to resist. I don't have the time, and I'm not convinced that it's that much of a good thing. Everyone has an opinion, and most of them stink - to paraphrase a proverb.

Very interseting I will be back to study the report more fully.

This is so true. I find myself spending way too much time on the internet. Need to back off. Life is too short.

Enjoyed the information. The stats were informative.

It was very interesting to learn about the annual surveys and the results of internet usage.

A different view of the internet, especially from a group that derives its being from the internet.

Very interesting - I learned a lot I did not realize about overall internet use.

I enjoyed this article

The information was good. It helped to confirm some ideas that I had about the internet and provide food for thought for my family.

Awesome Content!

fun. I like your approach as opposed to eclubone

I agree that newspapers will soon take the path of the dodo bird; I agree that family time is eroded by the internet; I fear predators of children who use the internet as bait. I question the value of the internet for political purposes. All of this, yet I use the internet for many worthwhile reasons. Interesting meeting, but rather long.

Finding time for the family is always a challenge. It takes disciplined parents to turn off the tv and internet and engage children and spouse in more wholesome and beneficial activities.

Great & thorough information.

It was interesting to see other points of view.

I enjoyed the program so much a couple of weeks ago, I reread it again. It makes a great point that everything in life should be done with a proper perspective to other parts of our lives.

Very informativeand comprehensive and has excellent stats. I loved it. Thanks.

EXCELLENT! My current generation family face to face time is certainly less than my previous generation. It was also very interesting to see that teenagers are more interested in daily news than ever before

The internet is taking over! Very interesting.

Wonderful program...although a little too "on my toes" at times. Great stats, and the "add-on's" were great too! Fun and informative. thanks

The internet has greatly affected our lives. Some good, some bad. Good program!

My wife tells me that I ignore her while on the internet. Kind of makes me think when I looked at the download.

Interesting information on Internet, etc., usage. I'm interested to see how it continues to grow/move.

This was a very interesting paper. I plan to share. Thanks

These are good reminders about priorities. In my generation it was TV, now the Inet and who knows maybe in the future people will discover how to talk face to face.

I really hate to see the printed word go the route of the dinosaur. Very interesting stats. I can see these trends in my family.

Although the internet is very useful, we shoudl be careful to maintain balance. It's worth reading "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster - after centuries of communication solely by glowing screen, the machines stops and society breaks down.

Excellent program. Gives us a lot of food for thought.

Facinating. I appreciated the links.

Very good program.

Not this one. I don't know how people have the amount of time they report they spend on the internet, unless that is their vocation.

thank you

VERY WELL DONE

Very good program, a lot of facts.

Wow that was an amazing amount of information. None of it was surprising however. Certainly families must set their boundries to maintain healthy family time. This has been an issue even before there was an internet.

A topic I've never read about before.

Great info on internet useage

Thank you.

Interesting data and conclusions... obviously the digital age is upon us

Very interesting

This certainly provides timely information about how digital information is shaping our relationships and our lives.

It was a good meeting

Interesting. I knew print newspapers were on their deathbed but I didn't realize the online editions were actually being read.

Very interesting presentation. I would be interested in knowing about trends in online giving to nonprofit agencies.

Very interesting study but highly predictable in its results.

The program was great after I got over the frustration with my own computer. I had to download a later version of Adobe in order to open the file with the talk.

Liked it. Interesting topics covered.

I can't wait to read about this one. Very interesting.

Interesting meeting

interesting stuff!

interesting

Very interesting that persons report not responding to internet ads. As for me, I don't because a) I like to search for what I want rather than be "stimulated" by an ad and b) I don't trust that I won't be pursued because of showing casual interest. As to the first however, I always buy more than I intend when visiting Costco! Something about reality? I don't know. Harry

The meeting was very well done.

Very good article. Cultural relevance to warnings combined with good statistical support. USC research adds to the credibility.

The degree of integration of the Internet and digital devices will contine to increase rapidly. Individuals must adapt or be left behind.

unique

Interesting topic

Good information and web sites

A bit long and over the top on survey findings.

I thought that this was more enjoyable than most of the programs I have attended.

I found this really informative. The question now is, how do parents encourage their children to limit their time on the internet and avoid addiction to the internet?

Interesting data on internet use. Fun taking the internet test of addiction...though I scored only 10 points.

Quality information.

Great info.

Interesting conglomeration of information and trends. Thanks for posting it.

Wow. The section about how much family time is lost to the internet really hits home. With a hubby and three teenagers, this statement is quite true.

It was interesting reading about how the internet has changed the lives of so many people and the way the commuicate both professionally and personally. I printed off the material and will be sharing a bit of it with my kids. Thank you for the opporutnity to attend this virtual meeting.

One of the best yet...am going to print it out.

I loved this program. I am an addict.

Most interesting!

your involvement with victims of the Hermosillo Mx. fire was touching . Blesss those who've contributed to this cause. We think of the lilled , injured and the economic burden they face. I respond to the program on "The Inner net. i AGREE WITH THE "moderation". everything in moderation ! ROTARY IS GOOD !

very interesting

Great meeting. The pupy story in particular was brilliant

Great information about the statistics on internet useage

I like the format of your meeting. It feels alot like my regular meeting. I felt that after only a short visit i was connected to your members. I look forward to coming back and visiting again.

This was an interesting topic. I liked it.

Interesting perspective on the internet's impact on families, media, etc. I took the internet quiz. I was an average "in control" user.

Very well balanced piece. Good information, fun facts and engaging pictures.

I really enjoy the format you use to hold a virtual meeting. It's (almost) like being there...

Good stuff, Stephen! Thank you for putting this together. Saved so I can refer to it with some clients!

It was a little confusing trying to track the meeting with the various downloads.

INteresting!

What an interesting and current topic. In addition to the stats on less family time, the article should have included the fact that the Internet allows busy adults to STAY in touch with friends and family. I email my husband and stay in touch with him, even when we are on very different schedules. We see very little of each other during the workweek, but the Internet allows us to stay connected.

Very interesting program. Lots of items to consider.

Great summary of how the internet can affect the social structure of our families, yet in other ways we find it utility in how it helps individuals not only have access to information but helps transform the way they see themselves.

I liked this site and really enjoyed the program. I especially enjoyed the story about the puppies for sale. Makes you think twice!!!

Very interesting topic! Thank you.

6-29-2009 The Virtual Balance presentation is an excellent source of facts and figures regarding internet use. I think having a firm focus, agenda, or sense of purpose for using the internet and its various resources is critical to (1) getting the most out of it; and (2) not losing all your time surfing through it. Going to a grocery store with a shopping list, an annotated copy of its weekly ad, and a fistful of manufacturer’s coupons is usually what smart, frugal shoppers do. Take the same approach to using the internet and you’ll get the greatest benefit with the least expenditure of your time and energy. Thank you!

Very worthwhile topic

interesting facts about increasing internet use and abuse .I think we spend way too much time on the net because of its convenience. Oyr children should be discourages from using it for anything other than research

Very interesting program. ?Its always interestinbg to see how different age gropus use the internet.

Good discussion and funny!

great program

I admit that I am one who will miss my daily print newspaper. Somehow, settling down on the couch with a laptop is just not the same...

I will recommend this program to other Rotarians

I took a survey this week referenced on cnn.com – not the tool from netaddict but one that measured my level of net use and social use (very heavy/driving force and minimal/not influenced.) I hope to see the results of that survey soon and if I run across it, I'll share with the club. As a matter of fact, nearly my only internet social activity is membership in this club and I routinely disappoint in my disitnterest in internet fellowship - at least of the blogging, foruming kind. I'm holding out for skype but our last skype meeting was scheduled during office hours in the states. However, my non-social use of the web leads me to wonder: when the Internet Generation starts spending their entire day on their computers for work, how much time will they spend on their computers for play? Certainly, it seems like the handheld internet device is the mechanism of choice for a lot of web-enabled social activity. Which reminds me that my other major web social activity is texting/messaging with my immediate family (I do travel for work and my children are grown and out of town.) I will, however, admit to having IMed my family from the other room back when that was the way we did it.

Interesting article indeed. I got a score of 26. I use e-mail daily to communicate with friends and family -- I lost my voice box due to cancer almost 5 years ago -- and I have difficulty trying to speak on the phone. It is a way for me to keep in touch with persons important to me. It is also my chief reason for becoming a member of an eClub. However, I readily admit I would miss my morning newspaper with my coffee, still enjoying the comics page and the crossword puzzle. I do go to the internet for news headlines, but still watch the national news daily.

I am amazed how much the Internet world has taken over. It seems that anything a person wants can be found or done on the internet. It is the future, but also scary, since if all computers went out around the world, we wouldn't be able to function.

good contrast to the blog article....but life really has changed since the net came especially with little children and teens having access to adult material

The story about the little boy and the dog is not new, but always touching!

The program was very interensting and the information current which was greatly appreciated. I enjoyed the story about the puppy and also found your site easy to navigate

The information in this program, about decreased in-person family time due to increased Internet use, is hardly surprising. I think that similar rates and responses would be reported for other types of human interaction that traditionally have also been face-to-face, such as church attendance and participation. The key thing here is not the description of the phenomenon but the response. If we just accept the trends, what will happen to relationships over time? How do we address and change the trends? The latter question, I think, is more important.

Very interesting topic. I am in the process of considering advertising with a local newspaper...with their on-line addition. I dropped my subscription years ago and read segments of 4 different newspapers on-line every day.

Two meetings where the content needs a good stuidy - glad I have a couple of long trisp comong up

The Internet is a wonderful place to learn so much, it also has the ability to create problems in families. I have seen so many couples where misusing the Internet has created a source of tension in their lives. This article will be very helpful to them as well as the Internet test

I enjoyed the program--I saw a news release recently about the effect of the internet on the time that families spend together. It was interesting to read a fuller report of the findings.

Thanks for making these meeting available. I seldom ever miss my club meeting...but sometimes it cannot be avoided.

Interesting. Never gave this subject much thought.

Ahhhhh. 52 weeks of perfect attendance. Thanks, RECSWUSA.

I enjoyed the meeting

Great program

Very interesting! Finally someone is talking about how time spent on the internet is taking away from family time.

Interesting meeting...considering that we are all on line.

Hello from Scottsdale and thank you for mentioning the tragedy in Hermosillo. I am making an unrestricted donation to E-Club of $ 25.00 to help in any way. Thank you for being here Mel Beth ant Judy. David Ortega AIA

Fascinating (and cautionary) information on internet usage.

Great program Steph! I'm with Ben Franklin in "Moderation".

I was glad to see the survey included something close to, "Are you using the internet to try and make the world a better place?"

Here's to a better world!

Easy format and easy to use! Thank you for allowing make-ups through your eclub. I also like your club business at the begining. Great way to meet your club!

everything is going into the computer age, especially the internet.

I think the Internet is a two-edge sword, just like cell phones and blackberrys. We have to remember that they are tools, and when to turn the damn things off.

I enjoy your eclub meetings. Your programs are interesting and good way to make up a meeting.

This program describes work of the University of Southern California's Annenberg Center for the Digital Future, which is a project of the Annennberg School for Communications. Given the hyper growth of online use, and the apparent risks of "addiction" by some users, the speaker offers polling information and press releases from the Digital Future Survey which provides insight into the nature of users, their frequency of use and the effects this migration to the internet is having upon the culture. Unsurprisingly, a clearcut generational difference exists in the volume and type of use. Young users, especially 18 and under, are very internet active and comfortable. Older users display much lower frequency of use, and thier use is more restricted in content. One area of substantial online activity is news. This is having a devastating impact on print newspapers. Because readership and advertising are both markedly down, many long time newspapers are closing their doors. Polls indicate fewer and fewer people are mourning this loss, with online news providing them a more convenient and timely product. Consequently, print newspapers must migrate to the web to survive. A few additional discoveries made by the Digital Future Project include greater confidence in government Web sites than in comparable "established media" sites; confidence in Gooch search reliability is high; privacy concerns regarding internet use is high; yet, online purchases remain high, and personal content such as blogs and photos continue to be posted in ever increasing numbers on personal web pages. This Rotary program is absolutely filled with interesting information about the internet, and is well worth the time reading. Excellent program!

Interesting. Now everyone join in our online community!

Interesting program. I'm glad to know that I'm not "hooked", but I am concerned that I sometimes get self- reproachful when I realize that I am spending time in areas that are meare procrastination from things I need to get on with. Thanks, Bill Ogletree

It took me a while to get into this eMeeting but it was worth the wait. Good material.

Good information!

Interesting topic.

I agree with some of the thoughts on Internet usage and disagree with others. First, I don;t see print completely going out of favor. Almost all of my walk in traffic comes from print ads and not online ads. As far as family time, this is a totally different issue and gets to parenting. Parents can and should limit online usage. We also read the paper as a family at breakfast every morning - oldest is 45 and youngest is 9. This is a good time for us and something we could not get by reading the paper online. We also find the more educated folks read the paper instead of getting snipets from an Internet headline.

Very interesting research. It is not only internet, but video games or anything else that totally enthralls one person to the exclusion of another, that are building walls between individuals and generations.

I was very pleasedto learn that I am not adicted to the internet. There is valuable information that offer different perspectives

Very interesting. Some great information about media and marketing opportunities.

Took the online adiction test and got a 27. I was pleased with that considering that my professional and volunteer life is all online. Good program.

Interesting statistics, even if some don't seem quite right. I think the percentages will probably vary by state or region.

good meeting, virtual lunch was low calorie

nope

Loved the program. I am an e-mail addict with a lot more time spent on the computer than I would like to admit to. Our Rotary Club communitcation is only via 3-mail. So this program was especially important for that reaspn.

Very interesting info on the internet. Food for thought for all of us.

A very interesting study. Could this be a good sign for the growth and perpetuation of eClubs?