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Press release

The results of a recent survey commissioned by @Demon, the magazine for Demon Internet, part of Thus, comparing the opinions of UK Net users to those of the rest of the nation has dispelled the myth of the Nethead stereotype. A sample of UK Net users and non-users were asked a range of questions ranging from their attitudes on the monarchy to their belief in aliens. The results show that despite distinct differences in certain areas, even the offline Brits are prone to go against the grain of traditional thought.

• We’re not alone! - 47 per cent of Net users believe that aliens really do exist compared with one in three offline Brits

This may look like proof that the World Wide Web really is a haven for anoraked, UFO spotting enthusiasts, but this belief is also shared by many respected figures. NASA’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) programme has a multi-million dollar budget and who’d argue with them? Maybe the Net users are more in touch with the universe’s possibilities.

• Online and overstressed 39% of Net users admit to feeling stressed everyday

In today’s high speed society, maybe its no wonder that online people are feeling the pressure. However, 35% of non-users also said they felt stress everyday. But the real difference is that 21% say that they never feel stressed compared to only 9% of Net users.

• No life after death for Net users

Internet users were completely divided as to whether there is something to look forward to beyond the grave. 51% believed in an after-life, compared to 49% who did not. With church attendances falling all over the country it is perhaps surprising that so many do still believe, but it is still lower than non-internet users 59% of whom think there is an after-life.

• Apathy the biggest threat to the monarchy

The attitudes of on and offline people were quite similar, overall 34% were for the monarchy, 30% against and 36% were neither here nor there. But the most worrying statistic for the monarchy showed that almost half of 15-24 year olds said they were neither for nor against royalty demonstrating a general apathy amongst the younger generation.

• No EastEnders for Netheads

Internet users, perhaps not surprisingly, do not watch as much TV as those offline. A total of 7% of offline people surveyed manage to watch more than 6 hours of TV a day.

The survey was carried out by market research company Capibus for @Demon magazine. The survey results were analysed and the article written by Paul Simpson, editor-in-chief of @Demon. For further details about Demon Internet, a brand of Thus, look at www.demon.net.