Nearly five years after the birth of the commercial browser, the World Wide Web is beginning to live up to its name by becoming decidedly more worldwide. More than 200 countries are connected to the Internet. Should Know Internet chat among all age groups is more popular than ever. At peak times, over 100,000 people chat simultaneously in America Online's more than 20,000 chat rooms. We visit chat rooms to find out the appeal, the benefits, and the pitfalls of this latest teen communication craze.
Sex also slows, at least on the Web.
But scandals and scanty clothing aren't alone to blame. Fact is, corporate users are just as likely as casual surfers to be stuck waiting for the information they want, whatever it is. And when business depends on the Internet there's more than bottlenecks to contend with. As your eyes glaze over this week from reading all the award show hype and PR-ish coverage, keep in mind that none of it really matters. Sure, it's fun, and it will give you a big People magazine kind of thrill to spend your water cooler breaks chatting with your work friends about how the Webby Awards, which take place Thursday, are getting more and more like the Oscars each year.