DALLAS, Aug 1, 2002/ FW/ --- What are people looking for most in life?

According to a recent America Online survey, money is the number one thing people search for - ahead of religion, the meaning of life or even love. And when it comes to finding answers to life's questions or just looking for basic information, more and more people are turning to the Internet first.

More than 80% of people polled in an America Online survey say, that the Internet is the first resource they turn to when looking for information. Whether they're looking for love, driving directions, or information on a neighbor, searching on the Internet has become one of the top online activities for people, along with email and instant messaging. Regina Lewis, AOL's online advisor, explains.

According to Lewis, searching the internet is no longer just a valuable utility, it's really becoming a cultural phenomenon. More people than ever, say they turn to their computers FIRST, before they pick up the phonebook or call information, and with one click, you can get the best, most relevant information on just about anything. It turns out, that on any given day, a lot of us are looking for the same kinds of things.

According to the AOL survey, four out of ten people polled admit to turning to the Internet to find information on former classmates and family members, while 35% percent have even searched for information on themselves. The most popular person searched for online? Britney Spears, who receives thousands of search requests through AOL Search each day. I'm Brian Osuch.

Other most popular things people search for online are driving directions, vacation or travel information, and information on their hobbies/interests.