On Monday, we started a biz poll asking readers to guess how much time is spent online surfing the web.
Of those responding, 46 percent chose 16.5 hours per week, 27 percent guessed 13 hours per week, 13 percent chose 8 hours per week and 15 percent guessed 5.5 hours per week.
According to a report from Harris Interactive, the average person now spends about 13 hours online each week.
Online times differed greatly depending on who you talk to. Of the 2,029 adults polled by Harris, about 20 percent of adults are only online for two hours or less a week, while 14 percent are on for 24 or more hours a week.
The reported times exclude e-mail — only time spent surfing the Web.
The results are down slightly from last year, when users were online about 14 hours per week. But usage is up from 11 hours per week in 2007.
Harris said the increase is likely due to increased access to the Web, as well as the recession. “It probably reflects a growing ability to use the Internet, an increase in sites and applications, increased TV watching online and increased purchasing online,” the company said in a statement. “Also, hours online may have increased because of the recession. Going online is free; going out usually costs money.”
Photo by jazza.