About 90 percent of Chinese university students regard "Internet
love" as an effective way to satisfy their emotional needs,
according to a survey by Northeast China Normal University.
The survey by the Changchun-based institute in the northeast
Jilin Province polled 4,811 students at 10 universities across the
country. It found that 18.4 percent of respondents admitted they
had at least one Internet lover, the China Youth Daily
reported. In addition, 38 percent revealed people around them were
having on-line love affairs.
"Life is full of troubles. If there is someone on the Internet I
can turn to, why not?" the survey quoted an anonymous student as
saying.
"We have to face too many pressures when falling in love in the
real world, but the inner-emotional needs can be better relieved
through Internet relationships."
One out of five students thought on-line love was a good thing.
More than half thought they might develop such a relationship when
they were helpless, depressed or emotionally hurt.
In addition, 38 percent thought it was possible to develop a
realistic relationship out of a virtual one.
"The Internet is becoming a much more popular medium for young
people to express their feelings and satisfy their emotional
needs," said Sun Caiping, a Northeast China Normal University
professor.
While more than half remained indifferent to the issue, only
11.6 percent showed a negative attitude toward it. Their main
reason was that Internet love didn't reach a good ending and made
people lose a sense of responsibility.
The survey found boys were more likely to focus on appearance
while most girls took talent, moral qualities and other
characteristics into account.
The survey defined Internet love as an
"emotionally-interdependent relationship two people develop through
the medium of the Internet, including on-line relationships and
real-life relationships that have evolved from virtual ones."
"Many university students are experiencing Internet
relationships with worries and questions. If the issue is not
properly handled, it may have negative effects on them," said
Sun.
(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2007)