Telly addicts developing web addictions

Time to go cold turkey?

By James Sherwood • Get more from this author

27th March 2008 14:30 GMT

The internet is now so addictive that many of us can’t bear to be parted from it, even while we’re watching telly – according to a report on Britain's couch potatos.

Video search engine blinkx surveyed over 2000 adults and found that 83 per cent checked their email while watching TV. Just under 70 per cent admitted to simply surfing the web aimlessly, perhaps even during an ‘enthralling’ episode of Coronation Street.

The survey also studied the TV and internet habits of people at both ends of the age spectrum. Fifty per cent of so-called 'Silver Surfers - folk aged 55 and over - sometimes watch TV while they're online.

But a massive 80 per cent of young people, aged between 16 and 24, often simultaneously surf'n’watch. And 21 per cent claimed to always browse the web while watching TV.

Adult Brits also love to have their say too, with about 20 per cent of both sexes combined venting their feelings in online forums about shows they're watching.

Telly over the internet also seems popular, but there’s a big content rift between the sexes. Sports are preferred by 48 per cent of men. Women, the survey revealed, watch more celebrity news and gossip.