Internet generation leave parents behind | Media | The Guardian - About

From the age of seven children are building multimedia hubs in their rooms, with games consoles, internet access and MP3 players, which they wake up to in the morning and fall asleep to at night, according to the study of five- to 16-year-olds. Girls in particular are likely to chat online to their friends at night and 38% take a console to bed instead of a book. Some parents who have stopped their children from having a TV in their bedroom for fear they will watch it too much have justified internet access on the basis that it will help with homework. But the latest from market research agency ChildWise finds children and young teens are more likely to socialise than do homework online. Some 30% say they have a blog and 62% have a profile on a social networking site. The report is based on an annual survey, now into its 15th year, of 1,800 children at 92 schools across the country. "This year has seen a major boost to the intensity and the independence with which children approach online activities," the report says. Screen time has become so pervasive in the daily lives of five- to 16-year-olds that they are now skilled managers of their free time, juggling technology to fit in on average six hours of TV, playing games and surfing the net, it suggests.

Highlighted by piggex

From the age of seven children are building multimedia hubs in their rooms, with games consoles, internet access and MP3 players, which they wake up to in the morning and fall asleep to at night, according to the study of five- to 16-year-olds. Girls in particular are likely to chat online to their friends at night and 38% take a console to bed instead of a book. Some parents who have stopped their children from having a TV in their bedroom for fear they will watch it too much have justified internet access on the basis that it will help with homework. But the latest from market research agency ChildWise finds children and young teens are more likely to socialise than do homework online. Some 30% say they have a blog and 62% have a profile on a social networking site. The report is based on an annual survey, now into its 15th year, of 1,800 children at 92 schools across the country. "This year has seen a major boost to the intensity and the independence with which children approach online activities," the report says. Screen time has become so pervasive in the daily lives of five- to 16-year-olds that they are now skilled managers of their free time, juggling technology to fit in on average six hours of TV, playing games and surfing the net, it suggests.

Highlighted by piggex

Children are spending increasing amounts of their lives in front of televisions, computers and games consoles, cramming in nearly six hours of screen time a day, according to research.

Highlighted by raydacteur

The online activity is building barriers between parents and children

Highlighted by raydacteur

a third of young people insisting they cannot live without their computer.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

Girls in particular are likely to chat online to their friends at night and 38% take a console to bed instead of a book.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

But the latest from market research agency ChildWise finds children and young teens are more likely to socialise than do homework online. Some 30% say they have a blog and 62% have a profile on a social networking site.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

The report is based on an annual survey, now into its 15th year, of 1,800 children at 92 schools across the country. "This year has seen a major boost to the intensity and the independence with which children approach online activities," the report says.

Highlighted by paulreid

"This year has seen a major boost to the intensity and the independence with which children approach online activities,"

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

But reading books is falling out of favour - 84% said they read for pleasure in 2006, 80% in 2007 and 74% this year.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

Children who use the internet spend on average 1.7 hours a day online, but one in six spent more than three hours a day online on top of the 1.5 hours they spent on their games consoles.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

One in three said the computer is the single thing they couldn't live without, compared with a declining number - one in five - who name television.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

Pupils are using the internet less while at school, frustrated by the low-tech access and the restrictions put in place to stop them from accessing inappropriate material.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

"It's hard for the older generation to understand what's going on with their children because they communicate in a completely different way."

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

"It's hard for the older generation to understand what's going on with their children because they communicate in a completely different way."

Highlighted by raydacteur

Ages five to eight

A quarter of five-year-olds have the internet in their room. One in three eight-year olds have a mobile phone

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

Nine to 12

By the time they leave primary school two in five have the net in their room. Four out of five still read for pleasure.

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

13-16

Around half have internet access, spending 2.2 hours a day on sites such as YouTube, Bebo and MySpace. Almost all have their own phone

Highlighted by tomkrieglstein

Internet generation leave parents behind | Media | The Guardian

Popularity Report

Total Popularity Score: 0

Rank

URL Tag Cloud

Groups (0)

Related Lists

Bookmark History

Public Comment

Public Sticky notes

Site Community

Readers (16)