A new study released by the Cyberdialogue research firm finds that 30 million Americans stopped using the Internet in 1999, raising the question: Is this the beginning of a backlash against Internet use?

The findings present more grim news to online groups that so far have avoided the tech-sector shakeout. The report claims that one-third of people younger than 25 who have been online are turning their backs on the Web, and that teenagers and college graduates are the largest demographic groups to log off. These people are even describing themselves as "former users," ZDNet News reports.

The reasons for the backlash may range from college graduates not being able to afford Internet access once they are out of school to the Web's increased commercialization literally turning people off, ZDNet reports.

"The Internet is a different thing now (compared) to five years ago," Sally Wyatt, a researcher for the international Virtual Society organization, told the news service. "People are faced with a constant stream of ads and are getting fed up because they can't find what they are looking for.

"The Internet has transformed from a fairly elite academic resource to a commercial entity and while that broadens access it also puts people off."

Another finding of the study is that self-taught Internet users are more likely to log off than people who have had Web training.

Steve Woolgar, also with Virtual Society, said that his research in preparing the "Virtual Society? Beyond the Hype" report confirmed Cyberdialogue's findings that millions of people were disenchanted with the Net and had moved on to other activities.

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/
0,4586,2661717,00.html