The good, the bad, and the Internet: Investigating the impact of online prosocial and anti-social behaviors on well-being

Abstract

Studies have acknowledged how Internet use can lead to increased loneliness, but while Internet use can lead to various types of behavior, less research has been done comparing the effects of different Internet behaviors on loneliness, such as prosocial and antisocial behaviors. Using survey data collected in Singapore, this study finds that online prosocial behavior reduces loneliness only when it enhances satisfaction with life, while online antisocial behavior increases loneliness only when satisfaction with life is unaffected. The findings provide support to the positive effects of engaging in pro-social behavior and suggest that a more reflective use of the Internet, such as engaging only in pro-social behavior, can help contribute to higher life satisfaction among users.

Keywords

• Internet use
• prosocial behavior
• antisocial behavior
• satisfaction with life
• loneliness