If you’re constantly wondering about your growing dependence on the Internet, you’re not alone. According to the latest phone survey conducted by Harris Interactive among 2,062 American adults, about 79% are now online.

In the past year, online users have increased by 10 percent and reached approximately 178 million. From a trivial 9% in 1995, the number of online users is constantly growing.

In addition, the time spent online is also rising. From the average of 8 to 9 hours per week in 2005, online users are now averaging 11 hours weekly.

According to Reuters, the online population aligns with general population in terms of demographics. For instance, the poll showed that 25 percent of adults who went online were between 18 and 29 years old – the same age group makes up 22 percent of the U.S. adult population.

Clearly, the online population will continue to grow in the coming years. What I believe is more important is to know the general behavior of the American online users and compare it with other online users in Europe, Asia, and other continents to see if there’s any significant difference.

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