The amount of time spent online every day by Dutch internet users has gone up 24 minutes over the past year to three hours, six minutes, according to researchers at Twente University.

The researchers say internet is fast becoming a primary daily need like eating, drinking and sleeping. However, 9% of the population still have nothing to do with it and 25% only use it sporadically, the research, quoted by Nos television, shows.
The growth in time spent online is due to communication and entertainment, the researchers say. The amount of time devoted to looking for information is stable.
The research says that 19% of internet users have found a job online, 14% have gone on a date arranged via a lonely hearts website and 32% have made a friend via internet.