Survey Sex is proving so successful on the Net, even straight-laced research companies are taking note. On Friday Datamonitor claimed its survey of smut-hungry surfers suggested the $1 billion currently spent on adult content will triple in less than five years' time. The company said porno punters paid $970 million for impersonal services last year. That will swell to $3.12 billion in 2003. Datamonitor's figures also showed that while many users were turned off by the idea of paying for access to the Internet, adult material was guaranteed to stimulate their spending. However, lest the more prudish feel the Web is being swept by an ever-expanding tide of filth, the survey reckons that spending on interactive games will grow even faster than porn payments. That said, despite an average increase of 62 per cent per annum, reaching $680 million in 2003, spending on games will need pumping up if it's to match sex sales size for size. ®