Over 50pc Pakistanis perceive positive impact of Internet on society: survey

ISLAMABAD: The findings of a study showed that more than 50 percent of Pakistanis have a perception that the Internet is having a positive impact on society.

The perception has increased by 9 percent over the course of two decades, as in 2001 it was 42 percent while the figure rose to 51 percent this year, a Gallup and Gilani Pakistan survey reported.

In a Gallup and Gilani Pakistan National Survey conducted in 2001, a representative sample of adult men and women from across the country was asked the following question, "Some people are of the opinion that the advent of the internet has adversely impacted our society while others believe that it has some positive impact too. Do you think that overall, the Internet has more negative or positive effects?"

In response to this question, the survey revealed that 39 percent said negative impact, 42 percent replied positive impact and 19 percent answered either don't know or gave no response.

The question was asked again in 2022 to allow a comparison to be made across the years.

This year, 37 percent said negative impact, 51 percent replied positive impact while 12 percent either responded don't know or gave no response, according to the survey.