BBC News Online: Sci/Tech

Web is 'not quite as dull' as the Dome

The internet has gone from revolution in the making to over-promoted fad and now it is just boring, says a new UK survey.

A report carried out for net service provider MSN has found that people are being turned off by what they see as internet hype.

A fifth of those questioned said they were sick of hearing exaggerated claims about the way the internet would change their lives, and were bored by tales of the get-rich-quick lifestyles of young dot.com millionaires.

Although respondents thought the net was boring, the survey revealed that it was not the dullest thing imaginable. That accolade was reserved for the Millennium Dome in South East London.

The survey questioned 1,000 people to find out how attitudes to the net were changing.

Vacuum cleaners

It revealed that 21% of those responding were now getting bored by publicity for anything to do with the internet.

But the boredom was not due to lack of interest. Over 77% of those questioned said they could not live without it.

"For many people the internet has become indispensable," said an MSN spokeswoman. "It's as much a part of everyday life as the telephone, television and video. It's no wonder people are bored with hype around the internet - you wouldn't want to talk about your vacuum cleaner in the pub."

About a fifth of those questioned, 21%, were bored with the net but more were tired of the Dome (64%) and politicians.