Survey shows internet users aren't socially isolated Internet users are not all freaks and geeks. FAR from turning us into a socially isolated society of selfish, lonely web surfers, the internet is actually good for us, a major new study has found. The comprehensive survey designed to analyse the nation's internet habits, found contrary to negative stereotypes, the net has encouraged a more open and inclusive society while simultaneously strengthening our belief in democracy. The Internet and Civil Society survey carried out by researchers at the Australian National University (ANU), aimed to provide a snapshot of internet usage and attitudes in Australia. Respondents were grilled on everything from how many households have access to the net to how often they head online and what they do when they get there. Key findings include: THE internet is making users more politically engaged and socially inclusive. MORE than half of Australian web surfers said the net helped them interact with people from other countries. A THIRD of survey respondents said the net had exposed them to people of a different race. The survey revealed two-thirds of us use the net at least once a day, with the same number comfortable downloading audio, video and image files. Researchers said contrary to expectations, the poll suggested our internet obsession is not creating a meaner, more individualistic society. They cited the more than 70 per cent of people who use the net more than once a day, who felt it was important to support people worse off than themselves in order to be a good citizen. The poll was conducted by Professor Ian McAllister and Dr Juliet Pietsch of the ANU School of Political and International Relations. Prof McAllister said the past five years have seen the internet transformed from a communication medium through vehicles such as email, to a virtual social network embodied by enormously popular services such as Facebook and Twitter. "We were interested in the implications of all of this, from politics to people's personal lives," Prof McAllister said. The survey revealed virtual interactions between people online through social media, mirrored those in the real world. A beneficial by-product of this was a strengthening of democracy, with social media increasing users interactions with others, exposure to voluntary groups and political awareness.