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New Study Shows Americans’ Dependency On Email And Do’s And Don’ts For Digital Communication

Posted: 4/29/2011

New Study Shows Americans’ Dependency On Email And Do’s And Don’ts For Digital Communication

(NAPSI) - More than ever before, people rely on digital communication, such as email, instant messaging (IM) and texting, to stay connected and get things done. And our evolving online behavior reveals a lot about our habits and values. A new survey conducted by Yahoo! Mail shows the average adult is highly invested in email, regularly using three email accounts—two for personal use and one for work use. The Yahoo! survey also finds a growing number of adults are “hooked” to their email, with two in three adults checking their email as soon as they wake up, up from only 41 percent last year.

“We’re wired 24/7—or at least many of us feel like we need to be, lest we miss something important at the office or what’s happening with family and friends. For better or worse, there is almost a compulsion to check in and be ‘in the know’ all the time,” noted Yahoo! Web Life Editor Heather Cabot.

The new survey, which polled more than 2,000 people in the United States, asked in-depth questions about email accounts and acceptable email behaviors. The key findings include:

People have multiple e-personalities: Yahoo! found that adults are heavily invested in email, with the average person having a total of about three email accounts, all of which are checked on a regular basis.

Breaking up is still hard to do: Thirteen percent of adults think it is appropriate to end a relationship via email, IM or text. The study also shows that men are more likely than women to end a relationship via email, IM or text.

We are snoops: One in five people admit to having read their significant other’s email without that person’s knowledge.

email appetizer: The majority of adults check email very frequently, with 48 percent checking their inboxes during meals.

You’re being judged: Many adults, especially women, have negatively judged someone based on an email, grammatical errors or even an email address.

The clock is ticking: Most adults believe there is a finite period of time in which someone can respond to an email. When it comes to personal mail, 86 percent of adults think an email should not go more than a week without a response.

Personal life at work: Sixty-eight percent of adults check personal email while at work.

iAppreciate it: Seventy percent of adults believe it’s OK to send thank-you cards/notes for gifts via email.

First email, then driver’s license: Eighty-one percent of adults would allow their child to have his or her own email account before the age of 15.

With more of our precious time spent online, it’s essential to find new ways to streamline our digital lives. Luckily, Yahoo! Mail provides apps to send large files via YouSendIt, view pictures, use PayPal and send Evites without leaving your inbox—making it easier to respond to emails and mind your manners.

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