I came across this research - Current Decade Rates as Worst in 50 Years - which included the data in this chart.

Now, I find it interesting that of the 14 subjects presented where the 'change for the better' out-weighs the 'change for the worse. six are Internet-related.

I suppose this data is, in itself, a vote in favour of the role the Internet has changed our lives. But I would like to put forward an extra opinion of my own.

If you read the whole report [follow the link above] you will see that its title is a fair summation of the contents of the report. My point is this:

I have long argued that the Internet is no more than a medium of communication - and could it be that in the last 10 years people have become used to using that medium to seek out - and find - information that was not previously available to them? I think the answer to that question is a resounding 'yes'. So could it be that as we now have this access that we are no longer fooled by marketers, politicians and all those other folk who at one time controlled the information that was available to us?

And so - stay with me here - could it be that our 'additional' knowledge has resulted in us being less satisfied with significant aspects of our lives - and hence the results of this research is so negative?