/UCWE/ - Online dating has become increasingly more popular as people’s everyday lives are busy and they just don’t have the time or the social networks to meet people the old fashioned way…through friends and co-workers

Is Cyber Sex Adultery?
The anonymous nature of the internet provides a fertile playground for the lonely or the curious to discuss their secret fantasies with others of a like mind in safety. These encounters provide safety because the chance of a partner finding out about the interaction isn’t that high. By using a screen name, no one knows who you really are. You can lie about your physical appearance, age, race, gender or anything else you want to lie about.

Most internet affairs start in chat rooms where people can talk in real time by typing in text messages. Chat rooms are public forums where people an express opinions. Most allow members to have private conservations as well. Since a user can just disappear from the chat room forever, most people are willing to be much more open and honest about their thoughts, feelings and especially their sexual fantasies.

What starts off as an innocent conversation can escalate into an intensely emotional relationship that can be passionate and even physical by masturbating while interacting with the other individual. While most of these relationships only exist in cyber space, some do go offline and turn into real affairs.

According to InfidelityCheck.org
• One-third of divorce litigation is caused by online affairs.
• Only 46% of men believe that online affairs are adultery.
• Adult websites generate over $1 Billion a year in revenue.
• 8-10 percent of Internet users become hooked on cyber sex.

Self Help Magazine did an online survey about the subject. You can view the actual comments at (http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/cyber_romance/cbrsxsrv.html) The survey results are mixed.

The consensus seems to be that if you are in a relationship and need cyber sex, there are already problems in your relationship. Most people seen to agree that cyber sex can be harmful to existing relationships if it is an activity that is hidden from a partner and lied about. But whether it is considered adultery seems to depend on the individual’s background and religious beliefs.

Here are some tips from Online Investigation Network http://www.onlineinvestigation.net, an excellent place for finding out information about people, on how to tell if your partner is cheating on or offline. Beware if your partner is:

1. Works a lot of overtime - Enabling them to meet their lover after work.
2. Uses the Internet excessively especially if they are defensive about what they are doing - A way for women to meet men in chat rooms or dating sites.
3. Has a lot of unaccountable Hours – this is the time frame to conduct surveillance.
4. Hides the phone bill - The #1 way to find out who the lover is.
5. Says "It's your imagination" - This is what is told to you when you're too close to the truth.
6. Receives hang up phone calls - The paramour is calling your house to speak with your spouse.
7. No longer interested in sex - Saving their emotion for their lover.
8. No longer wearing a wedding ring - A sign telling everyone "I am single".
9. Has new sexual techniques - What your spouse learned from their lover.
10. Says "I need my space" - When your spouse moves to the next stage.