SURVEY: ONE OUT OF 20 NET NERDS IS AN INTERNET ADDICT

SURVEY: ONE OUT OF 20 NET NERDS IS AN INTERNET ADDICT

NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- The internet just may be the computer equivalent of crack cocaine, if a new survey is to be believed. According to a poll of internet users by ABCNews.com, about 5 percent of online users are "internet addicts" -- people who spend more than 9 hours online each day and who can't tear themselves away from the monitor. The poll also shows that 42 percent of "net addicts" have had an online affair, and 31 percent of them actually had real- life, skin-to-skin sexual contact with their online lover. Other stats: -- 71 percent of the "addicts" claim they're so hooked they have to log on to the internet while at work. -- 50 percent of all those polled admit they've lied online -- mostly about their age, weight, marital status or looks. -- And, finally, the average internet user spends about 6.4 hours online every day, according to the poll. The poll will be posted today at ABCNews.com.

CONTACT: Michelle Bergman (press contact); NYC; (212) 456-2478