STORY:
Americans Say Y2K is "Overblown"

Survey finds majority of US citizens not making preparations for Y2K While most people think the computer Y2K problem is being "overblown," many are protecting their homes and apartments and some believe "life will never be the same again." In fact, 85 percent of 10,000 computer-savvy people surveyed by Greenfield Online say they have a level of concern about what will happen when the calendar hits 2000.

While "expert" opinions about what may happen due to the Y2K bug have been widely publicized, Greenfield Online says this is the first large study of what ordinary Americans think about the issue. Some of the dire beliefs expressed in the July study include:

    -- 43 percent think banks will not be able to access funds.

    -- 40 percent will not travel by air that day.

    -- 38 percent think lights will go out and some are buying generators.

    -- 1 percent plan to "go into a cave."

  "With 10,148 respondents, we feel we have an accurate snapshot of what people's concerns are," says Greenfield Vice President Brin Bell in a press release.  "We asked people more than 25 questions about level of worry, preparations and how the Y2K issue will impact New Year's Eve plans," she said.

The most severe worries are:

    -- 5 percent fear that nuclear reactors will explode.

    -- 4 percent think bombs will explode.

    -- 1 percent think the world will end.

While 85 percent of the survey-takers, who were mainly married and college-educated, believe the whole Y2K issue has been "overblown," nearly 40 percent are making preparations. 38 percent of the respondents are placing candles and flashlights around the house, 37 percent are planning to withdraw cash from the bank, 30 percent are going to stockpile food and a fourth are going to have bottled water on hand.

When asked if there is a solution to the Y2K bug, 15 percent believe that a company and/or individual is hiding the solution.  Among this group, 60 percent believe Microsoft is hoarding the answer and 33 percent believe it is the White House.

The study also looks at the impact of the Millennium as a social event. Some say they "purposely will not go out" on Dec. 31st, feeling that home is the safest place to be.  A fifth of the respondents are not planning ahead for New Year's Eve while an equal number have made plans.  Nearly 70 percent plan to slip into the new Millennium with their spouse or significant other. 16 percent already have made New Year's resolutions.

When the Year 2000 arrives, 46 percent plan to take a special vacation and 14 percent plan to get married in the first year of the new century.  More practically, 22 percent plan to buy a new car and 16 percent will buy a new house.

Source: Greenfield Online

DATE: 9/07/99

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