DIGITA-LIE - Sociological survey of the University of Insubria

Varese 1.12.2021. The students of Public and Institutional Communication of the Degree Course in Communication Sciences of the University of Insubria launched last month a survey with the aim of discovering how the different generations live the reflections that generates the era digital in the relational sphere, public and private.

The survey is divided into four sections: Socialization; Personal aspects; Sentimental aspects; Security.

The survey, spread on social platforms and aimed at young and old, aged at least 18 years, received about 12,000 responses, received from all regions of Italy and 20 foreign countries, mainly from Germany, Spain, Ireland, from the USA and the United Kingdom.

In the participation the female component is clearly majority with 62%. The most represented age group (83%) belongs to those between 18 and 30 years. 45% of respondents hold a diploma, followed by graduates (38%) and those who hold the average degree (13%). Most of the answers come from students (49%) and workers (37%). As for the contents, the survey finds the social utility of the network (70% of the answers) preferring however the socialization in presence (70%), privileging knowledge and interaction with others in person (74%). The sample also expresses strong concern about the damage that excessive use of the cell phone can cause in terms of reflection and deepening ability (84%) while declaring that it would not be able to do without even for a week (55%). The sample also expresses the fear of social networks because they can make the evolution of adolescence more complicated than in the past. It should be borne in mind that 47% of the citizens surveyed are now spending more than four hours a day on mobile phones and the same on-line and among them the very young are a considerable part.

As for the influence of social media on the existential forms of citizens, it is noted that only 14% of respondents say they are not affected. The answers also show that social media, despite 30% of people claim to have suffered online scams, exercise a strong appeal in the field of consumption: only 36% claims to buy live products. The sample (45%) tells us that the Internet is the first channel from which to draw information surpassing the TV that follows with 43%.

But social media has also broken into the world of feelings. The sample tells how to be seduced by the aesthetic aspect (27%), by the wealth of knowledge and culture (19%), by the tone of voice (10%), while social sensitivity stops at the bottom with 8% of consensus. But not everything is so linear. A considerable part of the survey provides peremptory answers: it argues that it is difficult to express a feeling through chat (68%), states that the network worsens the duration and intensity of a relationship in 43% of cases, stressing that establishing an online relationship takes several weeks, a month and more (76%).

In essence, the survey conducted by the students of Public and Institutional Communication of the University of Insubria wanted to probe a very large sample nationally to try to understand if and how the machine "social media" influences the daily behavior of individuals and communities, whether it is still people who regulate their lives or who are in reverse roles with respect to the dominance of the network.

The results of the survey tell us that our real existence very much appreciates human contact and that the network will not have an easy life in making it "asocial".

Angelo Tagliabue, rector of Insubria, said: "Once again our students have hit the mark by conducting an investigation, also translated into English and French, achieving an important success. The University of Imsubria pays great attention to social phenomena contributing to their understanding to improve the quality of life and the prospects of the new generations".

Giulio Facchetti, president of the Degree Course in Communication Sciences comments: "Live vs Social, Online vs Offline. It’s not a simple, temporary challenge. No one doubts the usefulness of the "network" because it is now an integral part of our life, but we want to understand how and if real life deviates from the virtual one and with what existential effects. The survey of our students in this regard has provided us with useful keys to reading".

The answers to the questionnaire seem to be pushing towards a conscious and positive management of technological and network development which, not infrequently, arouses some concern, sowing scepticism. And skepticism, as we know, diminishes hopes, limits action and participation, undermines the creative and design heritage of the new generations.