Monday, September 27, 2010

Virtual world is a real threat to children


If your young child or teenage kid is showing signs of being a loner,your broadband Internet connection may have something to do with it.

Excessive use of the Internet maybe exposing children in between eight and 18 years to risks such as social isolation, insomnia and obesity, says a survey by industry chamber Assoc ham.


The survey,conducted across 10 major Indian cities with as ample size of 1,500 regular Internet users, found that more than half of them spent over five hours a day on the Net.





A key factor of worry was that a smuch as 52 per cent of children between eight and 11 years were  in the usage category of “excessive”,denoting usage for five hours or more a day.The daily usage only increases as the age goes up.



“This trend is emerging mostly in metros, where normally both parents are employed,”said D.S. Rawat, Assocham’s secretary,ina statement.



Common online activities include doing homework, playing games, checking emails and chatting.Social networking is also akey activity.


Boys were more addicted to the Internet than girls.


The study,based on interviews by Assocham’s Social Development Foundation unit, identified alack of supervision at home and a feeling of inferiority among children, perceived as getting poor grades, among factors increasing Internet usage.

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