Can the internet improve your life?

You won't find many who would go back to the dark times when we had to physically attend a slide show of a friend's holiday snaps, rather than giving said shots a three-second glance on Facebook.

And even fewer who could claim to lead a truly happy existence before we became privy to the 140-character Twitter musings of Rio Ferdinand.

But while we might have a sneaking suspicion that our attachment to the internet is verging on unhealthy, perhaps we shouldn't feel bad about our excessive use of the web after all.

There are a multitude of ways that your beloved broadband could actually improve your life.

1. Work

Gone are the days of spending tedious hours schmoozing recruitment agents in the hope that yours will be the CV they submit for the vacancy. With the internet you can take matters into your own hands.

• Find a job - The likes of Jobsite let you upload your CV so recruiters can come to you. Or you can put in a little legwork and search out the positions you want and apply directly.

• Promote yourself - Find the most successful people in any field and aside from (hopefully) talent, you will virtually always find someone hugely adept in the art of self-promotion. Matt Harding, better known as "Where the Hell is Matt", made a video of his crazy dancing in an array of global destinations. It became so popular that a chewing gum company paid for Matt to travel around the world for 6 months making another video of his moves. Nice work if you can get it.

• Start your own business - Aside from more conventional online businesses, a multitude of bloggers have found a lucrative angle to their online chatter, and of course there is Mark Zuckerberg's small online enterprise, Facebook. Say no more.

2. Love

It's not only your work life that can get a boost on the web. These days online dating is so commonplace that there are few of us who don't know at least one couple for whom the internet played Cilla . One in six couples married in the last three years met through an online dating site.

Although, it's not always a success story, in fact it can be a downright car-crash on occasion, but there is no denying that regardless of your preferences, persuasions or particulars there will be someone online looking for the same thing as you - you just have to get a broadband connection and get searching.

• Dating sites - Take your pick from the mainstream options like match.com, but for those with slightly more "unique" tastes there is almost certainly a site tailor-made for you. Non-meat eating singles could try veggieromance.com. Or how about DateMyPet.com, which contrary to its dubious name, actually promises to hook up pet lovers with other pet lovers.

• A little cheek goes a long way - Sergeant Scott Moore posted an online video inviting Hollywood starlet Mila Kunis to the Marine Corps Ball and couldn't believe his luck when it came to the attention of Miss Kunis herself, who accepted. Sgt Moore said: "I thought I had a chance - that is why I put it on there and it worked out for me."

• Old flames? - Think again. Social networking sites could bring back some major blasts from your romantic past. In fact, Facebook is proving to be such a hotbed of new amorous action that it has become a primary factor in the end of marriages - being cited in a third of divorces last year. OK, so admittedly that's not so good for your current relationship, but great for anyone looking for a new one. Just make sure you don't get sued.

3. Show me the money

Perhaps paying for superfast broadband needn't be a one-way street for your cash. The more savvy among us could add to our coffers with a little smart web use.

• Shop around - We now have a wealth of retailers at our fingertips, so why plump for the first price you come across while indulging a little retail therapy? With a few clicks you can find the cheapest price for the item you want.

• Save money on your home services - Make sure you are getting the best possible deal on your broadband and other services by using our postcode checker. You could save hundreds of pounds by finding the best package for you.

• Get great online deals - Many retailers and service companies will offer deals for online customers. Look out for voucher codes and special offers only available online.

4. Friends

The net can also work wonders for your social life. Whether you are looking for a golfing buddy, a dance partner, or a new mate to travel the globe with, there's a site for you to find them.

At its simplest, the web makes it easy to keep in touch with friends by email, by video call on Skype or on Facebook.

5. Improve your grey matter

In 2011, research carried out by UCLA found a link between internet usage and brain function. A group of inexperienced web users, who used the internet an hour a day for seven days, showed more activity in the decision making and working memory areas of their brain.

A second group of experienced web users showed increased activity in areas of the brain related to complex reasoning. Both groups showed heightened brain function overall.

However, the researchers had yet to comment on whether five hours straight playing FarmVille would have the same effect.

6. Time

Gone are the days of a three-hour wait at the travel agents to book your summer holiday. Your groceries can be delivered straight to your door. And few of us even have a local bank branch to stand in for hours while we try to transfer some cash. It can all be done online in a fraction of the time.

What we all do with the spare time we must have these days is anyone's guess.

7. Happiness

And if all of the above is not enough, the internet is a great tool for simply bringing a smile to your face, whether it's dogs on motorbikes, other people's mishaps or amusing signs, the internet delivers time and again.

So view your internet obsession with pride - who knows what state our lives would be in without it?