[quote) What astounds me is that it is a significant change (40%) in such a short amount of time (10 years). And, quite honestly, the more I think about it the more I wonder if the internet IS directly linked to the problem in some way as the time frames match almost identically (for the most part). [/quote]

But is that time frame really accurate? Meaning, could it be that people are just more honest and open now in regards to sexual relations than they used to be? Maybe it's more of a generation thing...baby boomers are now in their 50's and generation X is hitting their 30's.
I know I'm a lot more open about sex with my kids than my parents ever were with me. My 13 year old was asking me some questions tonight that I wouldn't have EVER asked my mom and after I gave him the information he was asking about he wanted to know where I got information when I was his age. It sure wasn't my parents...and my husband (who is a tad older than I) is usually mortified that my kids ask me such things he deems inappropriate to talk about in front of your "mother".