Britons waste online time 'wilfing': study
British Internet users spend an average of two days a month surfing the web aimlessly, or "wilfing" as the activity has been dubbed, according to a study released on Tuesday.
British Internet users spend an average of two days a month surfing the web aimlessly, or "wilfing" as the activity has been dubbed, according to a study released on Tuesday.
More than two thirds of Britons admit to wilfing —— short for what was I looking for? —— while a quarter say they spend 30 percent or more of their time on the Internet surfing without any purpose.
Men are bigger wilfers than women, with shopping websites the biggest distractions, according to the study by price comparison website moneysupermarket.com.
"The Internet was designed to make it easier for people to access the information they need quickly and conveniently," said Jason Lloyd, head of broadband at the website.
"However, our study shows that although people log on with a purpose, they are now being offered so much choice and online distraction that many forget what they are there for, and spend hours aimlessly wilfing instead."
A third of all men admitted that wilfing has harmed their relationship —— perhaps because almost one in five confess they are "distracted" from work or study by adult entertainment websites.
"These days there are all manner of websites gunning for our attention," said British television "lifestyle coach" Pete Cohen.
"Not allowing ourselves to wilf takes a mixture of planning and willpower."
The research was compiled by the YouGov polling body based on questioning of 2,412 adults.
本周二公布的一项调查显示，英国网民每月平均有两天的时间在网上漫无目的的闲逛，这种行为被授予了一个新名词——“网游”(wilfing).
超过三分之二的英国人承认自己在“网游”（"我在找什么？What was I Looking For的缩写），四分之一的人说他们上网时有30%或更多的时间是在没有任何目的的闲逛。
发起这项调查的价格比较网站moneysupermarket.com称，男人比女人更爱在网上闲逛，那些购物网站是最容易让他们分心的地方。
该网站的宽带主管詹森·劳埃德说，“互联网是为了让人们更快捷、更方便的获取他们需要的信息。”
“可我们的调查表明，虽然人们上网是有目的的，但现在网上有这么多诱惑和让人分心的东西，所以很多人忘了他们上网要做什么，最后就在网上漫无目的地游荡了。”
三分之一的男性承认，在网上闲逛影响了他们的人际关系——有五分之一的人坦称，成人娱乐网站总让他们在工作或学习时分心。
英国电视台“生活方式教练”频道的皮特·科恩说，“如今，各种各样的网站都在吸引我们的眼球。”
“克制自己在网上瞎逛不仅需要计划，还需要毅力。”
这项由YouGov民调机构汇编的调查共对2412名成年人进行了访问。
