When I was working, I remember my CEO in 1996 taking a week off to research the ups and downs of a major company re-engineering project which we were about to undertake. I remember thinking that this would be the most exciting thing to do in the world using this recently and becoming more commonly available and yet exciting new resource, the internet. (Encyclopaedia Britannica wrote it off as a short term fad)
Now I find myself no longer having to work, I find myself using the internet to keep in touch with family and friends on a daily basis, a tremendous tool to check out the good, the bad and the ugly on meals,holidays or trips we intend to take, having my morning newspapers delivered to my IPad overnight and ready to read when I awake while I enjoy my glass of Ayran followed by a cup of tea in bed each morning.
Keeping in touch with the local community and wider community via CBF, following local news, watching live UK TV, checking local weather (usually sunny)
Talking to friends and family on FaceTime or Skype each day at almost a free of charge basis.
Managing finances either in the UK or here in Turkey with online banking.
In short, and I'm not making any excuse (queue those 'your sad life' comments) as to the time spent online. The internet helps me enjoy the lifestyle I choose to lead in this foreign country. As far as time spent on it? What the hell, I have it in buckets and it's not like I have to be home sat in my spare room connected to a modem to take advantage of the resources that the internet brings to me.
I've no idea how much time spent online is too much time, it's one of those questions that I think others will decide.