Effects of the Internet on Children
The Internet exposes children to an abundance of information, images and more. With children using the Internet for school, entertainment and social purposes, parents should take the time to understand the effects this exposure has on their child. Research has shown the Internet has both positive and negative effects on a child's social development and overall well-being. Frequent use to the Internet, however, does expose children to additional privacy, safety and emotional risk factors.
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Social Development
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The Internet provides some developmental benefits by allowing children to socialize through email, instant messages and other online forums. These global forums allow children to forge online friendships with children all over the world. Too much time spent online, however, may have a negative effect. When a child spends all his free time online, he loses personal interaction time with friends and family. According to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, some teens spend more time talking to people online than they spend having actual oral conversations. After a while, this reduction in personal interaction may hinder social development.
Exposure to Inappropriate Content
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One advantage of the Internet, the diverse availability of content online, also proves a disadvantage. Along with the good, often comes the inappropriate. Children accidentally may stumble on adult materials or other inappropriate images while surfing the Internet. In 2002, the London School of Economics conducted a survey that found that approximately 90 percent of children had seen pornographic material while online. This exposure may lead to conversations that parents may not be ready to have yet, but worse, this exposure may distort a child's view toward sexual relationships. Installing parental controls may limit this exposure.
Cyberbullying
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The Internet has become the new playground for bullies. Instead of face-to-face confrontations, cyberbullies use the Internet to torment their victims. By posting negative or derogatory comments and embarrassing photographs, cyberbullies use social networking websites, blogs, email messages and other online methods to humiliate, intimidate and even threaten. The broad audience of these forums increases the number of people able to witness a victim's anguish. The lack of physical confrontation in cyberbullying may lead children who otherwise would not bully to do just that. Overcomebulling.org reports victims of cyberbullying often begin to feel isolated and depressed, with some instances of cyberbullying ending in suicide.
Other Safety Concerns
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Children visiting social networking sites and other online chat forums risk exposure to cyber predators. These predators often lure children by pretending to be a child themselves. Parents must instruct children never to give out personal information online and should keep track of what websites their children visit.
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