A year of remote work and online living: how has it changed users?

As a result of the 2020 pandemic outbreak, work, entertainment and social interactions have moved online. Specialists at OpenVault ( a global provider of broadband industry analysis) have calculated that household data consumption has increased by 40% since March 2020. The figure includes data from tablet, computer, game console and cell phone that use a broadband Internet connection.

The average household now uses nearly half a terabyte of data per month. Other than studying how much time users spend online, we don’t know exactly what they do minute by minute. There are preliminary studies related to remote work satisfaction, various online habits and rituals.

Online reality: what has changed?

Many users confirmed that the ability to use the Internet keeps them safe, and that the use of various online habits will stay with them for a long time (participation in virtual events and activities, such as exercise, children’s dates, religious services, celebrations and political demonstrations). Online shopping (groceries, household goods, etc.) is hugely popular. On the other hand, there was also concern from parents about how much time their children spend online. Half of respondents said they were more likely to lose track of the hours they logged online than before the pandemic. Nearly two-thirds reported encountering more negative online reviews. More than 40 percent said they were taking social media breaks more often than before the pandemic (caused by a lot of online stimuli).

Using the network during a pandemic

According to data provided to Mashable by SimilarWeb, a web traffic analysis company, it was found that people were looking for positive and enriching online experiences in 2020. Users were eager to donate money to NGOs. The most popular online education sites, including Coursera and Khan Academy, recorded an average of 81.1 million monthly visits between March and December, a 43 percent increase over 2019. Globally, the number of searches for food donations peaked in April and remained higher than in 2019. Traffic on pet adoption sites increased sharply and was consistently higher. People flocked to digital therapy and meditation apps. On the other hand, one must also be careful that internet use does not crowd out sleep, exercise or socializing.

Remote work

Many users praise remote work, emphasizing that their mental health has improved. It’s possible that these respondents had unexpected benefits in the area of worklife balance, for example, they didn’t have to deal with a tiring commute, their time with their children increased, and they had the chance to take more satisfying breaks than the office ones. One study conducted during the pandemic by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Cambridge found no evidence that increased online social interaction improved the well-being of 119 students.

How does Internet use affect users’ well-being?

Internet access can streamline life for maximum productivity. On the other hand, one must learn to separate online and offline activities, as constant multitasking and ever-newer stimuli make it difficult to concentrate regardless of whether one is online or offline.

Until research brings more clarity on how the Internet affects our well-being, answers to these questions are subjective. Beyond tips for prudent Internet use and healthy personal habits, what matters most is who you are and what you do online.