As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread and become more contagious, people have been staying home more frequently and facing various mental health challenges such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, and loneliness. Students, in particular, are using the internet heavily for their studies, while jobholders rely on it for their professional responsibilities. At the same time, internet use can serve as a coping mechanism to relieve mental distress.
This study examines the correlation between daily internet usage before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a strong positive association ($r = 0.606$). Furthermore, we identify potential factors affecting daily internet usage during the pandemic among Bangladeshi students and jobholders residing in Dhaka using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model. The results show that the type of internet connection, regular internet usage before COVID-19, and the perceived impact of the pandemic significantly influence current internet usage patterns.