Have you have ever been irked or annoyed online? Numbers prove – you’re not alone.
As the expanding ways in which the internet provides ease to your life increases, so invariably does the rise of irritating internet habits.
From funny to frivolous to fury-inducing – more than 400 consumers across Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and India responded to a multi-market Telenor internet behavioral survey on what they love and loathe most about the digital world.
Additionally Thailand’s average time online per day (5.03 hours) was the highest, followed by Singapore at 4.38 hours, Malaysia at 4.18 hours and India at 3.35 hours.
A resounding 88 per cent of Thais say the internet has improved their lives, and 86 per cent of respondents stated social media in Thailand has helped them to strengthen relationships with friends and family.
The netizens also are most guilty of posting feline pictures and making online complaints, said the ‘Worst Internet Habits’ survey commissioned by Telenor Group – the major shareholder of Total Access Communication (Dtac).
The study was undertaken by Penn Schoen Berland in Singapore and surveyed 401 people across Thailand (101), Malaysia (100), India (100), and Singapore (100).
According to the Thailand findings, the top five most annoying things people do on the internet are (1) using profanity: 43 per cent; (2) spreading false rumors: 40 per cent (3) online games invites: 32 per cent; (4) trolling or offensively posting in order to elicit angry responses : 28 per cent; (5) sharing inappropriate content: 20 per cent.
Spreading false rumors
With 43% of respondents across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and India voting this the most annoying internet habit, spreading false rumors across the net was our clear winner. A decisive 12% higher than the ‘troll’ in second place!
In the pre-Facebook days, gossip could only spread by the literal man-power behind it. Now the Internet has enabled rumors to transform and amplify what used to be shared between confidants.
Now these stories – big, small, dreamed up or otherwise – can be launched into a colossal online public spectacle, with hungry onlookers feeding the fire which is as unstoppable as it is ‘shareable’.
Rumors can be damaging on a personal level, but equally devastating when they are based on ambiguity around traumatic events or social uncertainty that bolsters public anxiety with false information.
Lesson to self – just because it’s on Facebook, doesn’t mean it’s true.
While profanity was registered as Thailand’s top pet peeve at 43 per cent and in Malaysia similarly high at 39 per cent, whereas India and Singapore reported being far less annoyed by virtual world expletives with only 4 per cent and 7 per cent respectively reporting the behaviour to be annoying.
“This survey gives us a stimulating new way to understand and learn more about our customers in Thailand so we can continue to cater our services to them specifically.
In terms of the results, it’s interesting to note the unique feelings Thai people have in relation to the net, such as, the fact they really do not like online profanity. I am equally happy to see that Thais love to share food pictures,” says Lars-Åke Norling, CEO at Dtac.
When asked which online behaviours respondents have personally engaged in themselves, Thais admitted to (1) posting pictures of food: 36 per cent; (2) complaining: 29 per cent; (3) sharing cat content and poor spelling and grammar: 20 per cent tied.
