Experts warn: online shopping may lead to 'Mouse Rage Syndrome' and health dangers

Badly designed Web sites can lead to online shoppers developing "Mouse Rage Syndrome" which can negatively affect heart rates, brain waves and muscle tension.

According to a report published in the UK this week by the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC), shopping on badly designed Web sites could pose a health threat to the immune system, cardio functioning and nervous system.

The study, which examined a range of indicators including brainwaves, heart-rate fluctuations, muscle tension and skin conductivity among Internet users, has led to the term "Mouse Rage Syndrome" being coined.

It was commissioned by Rackspace Managed Hosting, an international enterprise-level Web infrastructure and managed services provider which provides hosting services to more than 70 companies in South Africa and thousands worldwide.

Having studied the report, Health & Wellbeing Consultant Liz Tucker warned: "This report shows that Mouse Rage can be as stressful as moving house, divorce and money worries.

"Online shopping can be particularly hazardous at Christmas. Finding, paying for and arranging delivery of gifts, hiring cars and booking holidays through badly hosted Web sites that keep crashing, can quickly get the blood boiling. There may not be alternative sites that have what you need, forcing online shoppers to risk the perils of Mouse Rage.

"As with all Christmas shopping, I'd recommend that people stagger it over a period of time, so if someone does have a bad Web site experience, hopefully it will be the only one of the day."

The study combined data from a YouGov poll of 2 500 people with physiological tests on a separate sample of Internet users, who were asked to find information from a number of different Web sites. The tests measured the physical and physiological reactions to Web site experiences.

The SIRC report stated: "When the test participants came to the 'problem' sites that we had deliberately chose as comparisons for the 'Perfect Web site' evaluation exercise [a prior study], things changed quite dramatically in most, but not all, cases. While a few managed to stay calm and simply 'rise above' the problems presented by crazy graphics and slow-loading pages, others showed very distinct signs of stress and anxiety."

The report went on: "Some changes in muscle tension were quite dramatic ... while this was happening, the participants' faces also tensed visibly, with the teeth clenched together and the muscles around the mouth becoming taught. These are physically uncomfortable situations that reduce concentration and increase feelings of anger."

Jacques Greyling, South African-born managing director of Rackspace Managed Hosting, said businesses that are selling online have a duty to their customers to ensure the experience is as stress-free as possible.

"The public has shown that it wants to buy online, as the IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) has forecast that over lb4 million (about R52 million) an hour will be spent in the UK in the run up to Christmas," Greyling added.

"The message is clear: businesses need to provide high speed page loading with simple and easy to navigate layouts while reducing the impact of intrusive advertising."

According to the SIRC report, the first signs of Mouse Rage include: quickening heart rate, increased sweating, furious clicking of the mouse, simultaneous clicking and cursing the screen and bashing the mouse.

The report lists the top five Web site causes of Mouse Rage as: slow to load pages, confusing or difficult to navigate layouts, excessive pop-ups, unnecessary advertising and site unavailability.