Has the Internet become indispensable?

The indispensability of the Internet to families and society at large is discussed. The number of adult Americans using the Internet increased 50% from 2000 to 2003. Compared to the General population, college students are the heaviest Internet users and it is used for managing all aspects of their academic and social life. In the year 2003, about 94% of computer-owning households reported having an Internet connection in the home suggesting that Internet become indispensable in the contemporary social life. Top in-house applications among regular computer users include e-mail, games, news and information, travel and vacation planning, online shopping and health information seeking.