41% of people would rather go without their partner for a week than the internet

MON 15/02/2010 - Just over two fifths of people in a relationship would rather be without their other half for a week than be parted from the internet, according to new research.

The research, commissioned by the shopping website OffersSupermarket.co.uk, polled 1,923 people in a relationship and asked those who favoured the internet over their loved one, why they would make that choice. Thirty six percent said they had a fear of being cut off from their friends and family via the internet for that amount of time, whilst 1 in 5 said that being cut off from news and current affairs would be too much to bear. Eleven percent unashamedly admitted they needed the internet more than their partner, whether it was down to work or just personal use.

A further 24% said they could use their computer to contact their partner anyway if they had to be parted from them instead and 8% claimed the internet was more reliable than their partner.

The study also found that 1 in 5 of the respondents would be more upset if they lost or misplaced their computer or laptop than if they were dumped by their partner and 18% claimed their computer held more memories in terms of photos, emails and video footage, than their relationship.

Of the 41% who said that they would rather go without their partner for a week instead of going without the internet, 57% said that they would miss social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter the most, whilst 22% said that they couldn't live without their daily emails.

Incidentally, for you internet addicts, Family Law has recently launched a new Twitter service, just search for JordansFamLaw to follow us.