A survey of over 1,000 American web users has shown that many are giving up on friends and relationships because of the draw of online life.

Almost half of respondents said that without the internet they feel that something important is missing from their lives.

Over a quarter meet up with friends less often because they are online, and one in five are having less sex because of internet use.

"The internet is taking away from offline activities such as sex, socialising face-to-face, watching TV and reading newspapers and magazines," Ann Mack, director of trend spotting at ad agency JWT, which conducted the survey, told Reuters. "I don't suppose their partners are too pleased about it."

The internet beat mobile phones as the technology item most could not do without, followed by television.

The survey also found that people are increasingly looking for mobile internet access and becoming less satisfied with having the internet at the home only.