Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between motivation and time estimates spent on internet based tasks, and its eventual incidence in informational and dialogical activities. The sample consisted of 120 students from 7 schools (“liceos”) in Chile, whose average age was 15. The participants had to carry out two different tasks on the Internet: first, a vertical communication activity (Google search); second, a horizontal communication activity (messaging). In each task, the perceived elapsed time and the level of interest were evaluated. When comparing the vertical and the horizontal communication activities, the results show a significantly higher interest and significantly lower estimated time in the horizontal communication task (chatting). From these results, a projection of the informational and educational uses of the internet can be made.