HighSpeedInternet.com has released a report proving something that anybody reading the report or this story knows is true: Slow internet is annoying. To be fair, the organization quantified the level of annoyance by comparing it to other tech and everyday annoyances.
In the workplace, 25% of report respondents said that slow internet is the most annoying workplace problem. It beat such stalwarts as “update your password” popups to constant interruptions. Slow internet was not quite as annoying as “obnoxious coworkers” and forgotten passwords (at 27% and 26.6%, respectively).
The slow internet report, which is based on data from 1,000 adults in the U.S., also focused specifically on tech-related annoyances. Some facts of note:
- Spam and robocalls are the most annoying digital distraction according to 45% of respondents.
- Slow internet ranked second among digital distractions. Its impressive negative strength beat out “storage almost full” pop-ups, which was said to be most annoying by 22.5% of respondents.
- Overflowing inboxes were an annoyance to 13.3% percent of respondents.
- Almost twice as many people in the report found slow internet more annoying than “dropping an impose-to-cancel subscription.”
The report offers an impressive litany of the annoyances of modern life. Slow internet is in the top tier of the list, which includes traffic and bad drivers; losing essential things such as keys, wallets and phones; long lines, being late for important events, and uncomfortable seating.
“Even texting and driving—a clear safety hazard—frustrates many of us less than dealing with sluggish Wi-Fi,” according to HighSpeedInternet.com writer Trevor Wheelwright.
Folks especially sensitive to slow internet or, conversely, don’t care too much should pay attention to another report HighSpeedInternet.com published last month – especially if they are relocating.
The report found the fastest states are Delaware (246.95 Mbps); Maryland (238.26 Mbps); New Jersey (235.67 Mbps); Connecticut (233.88 Mbps); Florida (232.80 Mbps); Virginia (230.49 Mbps); Rhode Island (227.10 Mbps); Texas (225.74 Mbps); California (223.59 Mbps); and Nevada (220.91 Mbps).
The report said slow internet is worst in ten states including Vermont (166.40 Mbps); West Virginia (164.85 Mbps); South Dakota (164.71 Mbps); Minnesota (164.68 Mbps); Iowa (150.74 Mbps); Wyoming (147.19 Mbps); Hawaii (146.19 Mbps); Montana (129.73 Mbps); Alaska (125.09 Mbps); and Idaho (124.57 Mbps).
The report found that the average national internet speed last year was 214 Mbps, a 9% year-over year increase from 2023, when the average was 196 Mbps.
