Israeli surfers are seriously addicted to their internet connectivity, with many willing to compromise their relation with family and friends, all in the name of remaining connected. A poll commissioned by Google and carried out by MarketWatch IPSOS shows just how badly Israelis need to remain connected and what they are willing to sacrifice towards maintain that ability to surf at will.

The poll was conducted among 511 adult Israeli males and females over the age of 18 representing a cross section of the Hebrew speaking Jewish population. The chareidi tzibur was excluded from the study.

99.8% of the respondents do surf the internet averaging 4.5 hours daily, which is almost twice the amount of time spent speaking with others or watching television and about four times the amount of time dedicated to reading.

In addition to recording the surfing habits of respondents, provocative and hypothetical questions were introduced into the study to determine what surfers are willing to forego towards remaining connected whenever they wish to go on line.

What do you do on the internet?

100% search for information

99% manage mail

98% visit content website

94% watch movies

92% are connected to social media websites

88% use the internet for shopping

87% listen to music

70% are playing on the net and are active in forums and blogs

Would you compromise your connection with your mother to remain connected?

59% of men are willing to forego their connection with mom for a year rather than being disconnected.

47% of women gave a similar response.

56% of married respondents are willing to forego a connection with mom for a year to remain connected as compared to 45% among singles.

67% of respondents are willing to remain silent for a week in order to remain connected while 51% are willing to forego internet connectivity to continue speaking with others for a week.

42% of respondents are willing to not hear for a week to remain connected and 20% are willing to give up their sight for a week to remain connected.

30% of respondents believe their children prefer the internet over them.

12% are willing to not see their spouse for a week to remain connected.

38% of men feel their closest friend would forego meeting with them for a month to remain connected to the internet.

The study speaks volumes about today’s Israeli society and the priorities of the non-chareidi adult Jewish Hebrew-speaking community.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)