TY  - JOUR
AB  - Characterizations of users’ experiences on the Web are beginning to appear. Recently released research suggests that Internet use may reduce psychological well‐being, for instance by increasing loneliness and depression. Our current study implies that using the Internet may provoke enjoyable experiences through the flow state, which may in turn positively influence an individual’s subjective well‐being and improve a person’s happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect. By surveying 304 Web users through an open‐ended questionnaire, this study captures a picture of Web users’ flow experiences regarding their optimal situations on the Web. Results suggest that using the World Wide Web is an activity that facilitates flow, which generates an optimal, extremely enjoyable experience with total involvement and concentration. Symptoms and dimensions of flow states on the Web are reported directly from subjects’ responses, such as merging of action and awareness, a loss of self‐consciousness, the sense of time distortion, enjoyment, and telepresence.
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
SN  - 0959-3845
DO  - 10.1108/09593840010359473
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/09593840010359473
AU  - Chen Hsiang
AU  - Wigand Rolf T.
AU  - Nilan Michael
PY  - 2000
Y1  - 2000/01/01
TI  - Exploring Web users’ optimal flow experiences
T2  - Information Technology & People
PB  - MCB UP Ltd
SP  - 263
EP  - 281
Y2  - 2024/04/19
ER  -