CARNAL NATION

Research out of Swinburne University of Technology indicates that most people who have online sex are married or in long-term relationships. Typical cybersex users are 41 year-old males who prefer to look at images online than participate in online chats. This seems to make sense since typing often requires two hands.

The study involved 1325 participants of whom 55 percent claimed to be married or involved in a serious relationship. Interestingly, online sex has found its way into the real world with 65 percent of cybersex users reporting that they went on to meet their e-lovers in real life. According to ABC News, study participants were recruited by advertising in cyber sex user groups and almost half of contributors lived in North America and 12 percent were Australian.

Marcus Squirrell, the lead researcher in the study, explains that many people use internet sex as a means of further exploring their sexuality in a healthy way, but others spend too much time engaged in cybersex. "These people are putting so much energy into cybersex -- in some cases up to 10 hours per day -- that it is detracting from their relationship with their partner," says Squirrell. "It can also adversely affect other areas of their lives, such as their education and employment."

The question of whether or not cybersex constitutes cheating is the subject of ongoing debate. Squirrell suggests that online sex can have equally devastating impacts on relationships as in-flesh encounters, as they share the common element of betrayal. The psychologist-researcher is also a proponent of sex-addiction programs that involve 12-step plans based on the Alcoholics Anonymous model. Despite criticisms of sex-addiction theories from experts in the field of human sexuality, Squirrell is working on an e-therapy program to provide online treatment for cybersex addicts.