Whether or not reading online novels was a waste of time depended on one's personal situation and purpose. For some people, web novels are a form of entertainment that can help them relax and relieve stress. By reading online novels, they could learn new storylines and character settings to expand their knowledge. In addition, online novels often provided fantasy, science fiction, history, and other topics to help readers understand different fields of knowledge. However, for some people, reading online novels could become a waste of time. They may be too engrossed in the story to pay attention to other important things such as work, study, exercise, etc. In addition, some people might have a poor reading experience due to reading too fast or lack of concentration. In summary, whether reading online novels was a waste of time depended on one's personal situation and purpose. If the purpose of reading is to relax, gain knowledge, and control one's reading behavior, then reading online novels may be beneficial. However, if the purpose of reading is to indulge in the story or the reading behavior will affect other aspects of life, then reading online novels may become a waste of time.