Is the internet good for you?

How has the internet affected education, politics and personal relationships? These were some of the questions asked recently across 32 emerging and developing nations.

The results, published by Pew Research, show that, worldwide, people see the internet as an enabler of education and a way to improve personal relationships. However, many were less enthusiastic about the internet's influence on politics and "morality".

Across the spectrum, a median of 64%, which included those not yet connected, said that the internet had a good influence on education. They also agreed that the internet exerted a positive effect on personal relationships.

In the past year, 83% of those surveyed said they had used social networking sites to stay in touch. In every nation surveyed, a majority of those online said they used social networking sites, ranging from 93% in the Philippines to 58% in China.

There was substantially less enthusiasm for the internet's influence on "morality". Only 35% of those connected online said that they felt the internet had a positive impact in this area. The study did not, however, define "morality", which would have significantly different meanings across 32 nations accounting for a wide variety of cultures and social norms.

Younger generations in developed and emerging economies were the most ambitious about getting online. Those aged 18 to 34 were more likely to be connected. In Vietnam, for example, 70% of those under the age of 35 reported that they used the internet, while only 21% of those 35 or older did so.

Much like their counterparts in developed nations, young people used the internet to stay connected to friends and family and get information about politics, healthcare and government.

Despite this progress, less than half of the total population in those countries surveyed had access to the internet. While connections are improving thanks to smartphones and other devices, computer ownership can vary from as low as 3% in Uganda to 78% in Russia.

Not surprisingly, the potential access to online resources was seen to be directly linked to the average per capita income of a nation. The countries with the lowest per capita income, such as Tanzania and Uganda, were also the locations with the least internet access. Russia, Poland and Chile, all with notably stronger economies, were far more connected online.