Study: No sex please, we’re surfing the Net

by Stevie Smith - Dec 16 2008, 13:43

Evidently, when it comes to looking for a worthy replacement for sex, chocolate now has an extremely powerful rival in the Internet. More pointedly, a new study commissioned by chipmaker Intel Corp. has revealed that a significant proportion of people would rather go without sex than give up their Internet access.

The U.S. poll, which was carried out by Harris Interactive in November across 2,119 adults, returned that some 46 percent of women and 30 percent of men would opt for abstinence over a two-week period if it meant retaining their Internet connection.

Perhaps indicative of the modern, cutting-edge nature of the Internet and its core attraction and importance to younger adults, the respective gender percentages increased to 49 percent and 39 percent when gauged through those aged between 18 and 34. Interestingly, the figure rose to 52 percent in those female respondents aged between 35 and 44.

The poll, which is a part of Intel’s larger study into America’s reliance on the Internet in the current economy, also found that 30.5 percent of adults would be willing to give up sex for an entire year, while some 26.1 percent said they would choose to lose their connectivity during that time rather than pass on sex.

Beyond the overriding preference for Net access over sex, other results garnered from the economic study revealed that 84 percent of those polled sought to save money by frequenting price comparison Web sites, while a further 65 percent admitted to using online access to search out helpful coupons, discounts and special pricing promotions.

And it’s not just sex that adults are willing to forego rather than be severed from the Net, according to a Reuters report. Specifically, a recent British study revealed that the majority of respondents would be prepared to give up TV watching for two weeks rather than lose their connection.

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