The studies, conducted independently of each other by market research group Synovate and the Pew Internet & American Life Project, found that more than a third of Americans admitted to saying things or using language on the Internet that they wouldn’t say in person.
The findings should ring true to those in the adult webmaster community, where insults are exchanged as frequently as links and traffic.
On a wider scale, researchers found that technology in general is lowering standards for acceptable behavior.
According to the Synovate study, people have become accustomed to carrying on loud cellphone conversations in public (especially at the movies and on airplanes), answering cellphones or using instant messaging in the middle of meetings, or even threatening or harassing people online.
“Poor tech etiquette is something most of us don’t really think about as we pick up our cellphones or send an email,” Synovate Vice President Steve Levine said.