When was there ever a widespread social stigma associated with Internet use? This is not something that ever existed, so it's probably not a good analogy.
The Internet was seen as this nerdy, niche thing for a long time. Thus, by extension, you'd be more inclined to admit you stayed up late 'watching TV.'
This was the late nineties.
But correctness of analogy doesn't change the thesis: mainstream opinion is whatever people are force-fed through bottom-of-the-barrel social norms.
