Have you never chatted up someone on the net for a bit of harmless fun? Beware, as it could turn into something far more sinister which could jeopardise your relationship.

What does infidelity mean to you? Is a drunken snog at a party your idea of betrayal or do you only draw the line at full sex? Discovering that your partner has been sharing secrets with a member of the opposite sex could be as devastating to you as walking in on him cheating in your bed. Emotional intimacy can be more threatening than the mere physical act of sex. But what about when the intimacy sexual or otherwise is taking place between two people who never actually meet? Can two people who only ever connect in cyberspace really be accused of having an affair, or is on-line 'infidelity' just fun?

Not if you believe figures released by the Office for National Statistics, indicating that UK divorces had hit an all-time high. This is depressing enough news in itself, but quite staggering when you consider that websites such as Friends Reunited were being cited as partly to blame. That a site set up with the harmless notion of encouraging people who had long lost touch with one another to reconnect should be named in divorce proceedings is a sad reflection on the state of human interaction. But it surely also offers pretty conclusive proof that on-line flirtations are played for more than laughs.

For some this is something that started when they were single, it is increasingly becoming the place to meet friends, a potential partner or just for sexual kicks with likeminded people - or those who do it to earn money (just type in your credit card number!). However, when they meet a partner in 'real-life' they find it hard to kick the on-line habit and it can go on unbeknown to their partner for years. Finding out your partner is a sexual internet chat room user can be devastating and with rooms called "Married But Looking" on Yahoo's chat room facility, it shows just how popular this activity is. I logged on (in the name of research) and was horrified to read some of the messages people were leaving "I love to taste the forbidden fruit of married men" was one sad individual's contribution. I wanted to jump down the modem and smash her face in but satisfied myself with a few choice words which I am afraid I can't repeat!

Cybersex – is it harmless?
When an on-line affair leads to the end of a relationship, there's no doubt that it was an affair, but what about the so-called more harmless activities of cyberflirting or even full-blown cybersex? These are supposed to harmless. After all, how can infidelity be infidelity when, by definition, no sex acts (except in the virtual sense) are actually taking place? But emotional intimacy is more threatening than the mere physical act of sex.

On-line Affairs – the emotional impact
Emotional involvement, even without physical consummation, can be just as damaging to a relationship. People can justify an on-line affair to themselves, but the consequences, like loss of trust or hurt, can be just as damaging as an off-line affair.

To most of us an affair is about far more than the sexual act. An Internet relationship is cheating just the same as any other type of affair!