Internet children leaving parents behind

Posted by Ingrid Thomson | 13 Feb, 2009
Story spotted on the Guardian

"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.

The online activity is building barriers between parents and children, the authors say, with a third of young people insisting they cannot live without their computer."

Some of the claims in the story:-

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

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

* Around half 13 - 16 years olds  have internet access, spending 2.2 hours a day on sites such as YouTube, Bebo and MySpace. Almost all have their own phone.