Children and the internet
internet; learning; cyber; computer; on-line; surfing; chat; rooms; interactivity; e-mail; bulletin; boards; learning; video; newsgroups; world; wide; web; WWW; software; addiction; CD-ROM ;
Contents
The internet is an amazing invention. It is a useful tool that offers opportunities for learning, finding information, fun games, contacting friends, shopping and for chatting to others with similar interests.
However, the internet is an adult environment, with few limits on what is placed on it and where the information may not always be reliable. As such, it can be a dangerous place for children to play. As with other areas of children’s lives, parents have a responsibility to provide guidance and to set clear limits. Parents need to understand the impact of the technology and know what their children access on the internet.
About the internet
The ‘cyber’ world means the use of information technology (computers) to communicate, get information and play games.
- The internet is a massive network of computers from around the world that are all connected by cable and satellite. When you’re on the internet, through your computer you can receive text, images, video and sound. It’s like a telephone with pictures.
- Controls on, or censorship of, the internet vary from country to country.
- For material hosted on Australian servers there is a code of practice that asks Internet Service Providers (ISP's) to remove illegal material. However, this does not cover sites from overseas.
- Most schools have information technology rules to protect children, but supervision is the most effective policy.
- While many parents feel they are being left behind or are out of their depth compared to their children, who seem very confident in using this technology, remember in the home supervision is the best policy.
The internet can have a different effect on children at different ages and stages of development.
- There are a number of internet filtering tools that parents can use to control the information that is accessed by children using the internet. The three most commonly used varieties are filter, labels and safe zones.
- The software can filter access to web sites and so protect children from harmful, violent and sexually explicit material and chat lines. However such tools are not foolproof and some ‘computer aware’ children can still get around these programs.
- Filtering software can provide some help, but should not be relied on alone - parent supervision is so very important.
The Young Media Australia site has a 'Fact sheet' about filtering tools:
http://www.youngmedia.org.au/mediachildren/06_03_filters_net.htm
There is also information at the Internet safety body 'Netalert', set up by the Australian government to provide independent advice and education on managing access to online content.
http://www.netalert.gov.au/
Common dangers in using the internet
The internet is an adult environment, where there is little or no regulation or control on what can be placed on it. There are millions of perfectly safe children’s sites on the net to find useful information, fun computer games and entertainment, but children can also be exposed to many pitfalls and dangers. Some sites can be found quite easily by accident and may appear superficially harmless and amusing. However there is plenty of material that can be damaging to children and young people’s development.
Be aware that:
- much of the information on the internet is not accurate or reliable
- a person can pretend to be someone they are not. Is the 15 year old on the chat line really who he says he is?
- a child may provide personal information to strangers or arrange to meet new ‘friends’ without really knowing who they are
- children have become victims to pedophiles and others who later meet with them and then exploit or abuse them
- Email can be used to harass or annoy others (cyber bullying)
- violent and disturbing images include things like crash scenes and mortuary sites
- some sites provide information on criminal activity such as bomb making and drug abuse
- advertising, with bright colourful images puts pressure on to purchase goods on-line
- use of credit cards to purchase goods and services may not always be safe
- it is possible to gamble on-line by providing money via a credit card
- some sites contain information and images that could be harmful, eg pornography, even when children are searching for ordinary everyday topics
- the internet can become addictive.
Viruses, worms and other software that can damage the computer can too easily enter with Email and other connections to the net. See the topic 'Computer safety' on the Young Adult section of this site.
Why parents should be concerned
The Internet is fun, but full of strangers. Opportunities are there for your child to be exploited or abused.
Too much sitting at a computer can be unhealthy and result in repetitive stress injuries, eyestrain, obesity and social isolation.
Research has shown that violence in most forms of screen media such as films, videos, television, computer games and the Internet can have a negative effect on children, particularly young children.
Children exposed to a steady diet of violent media are at risk in three ways:
- learning aggressive behaviour
- becoming desensitised to others being hurt
- becoming fearful of their everyday world.
Becoming hooked
- Children and young people can become addicted and so absorbed in what cyberspace has to offer that little or no time is left for being with people, or getting enough physical exercise.
- Often children can become ‘hooked’ into the fast moving world of computer games and too much exposure can lead to a number of problems - such as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, not mixing with others, poor communication, trouble with school work and difficulty concentrating in class.
- Some signs to look out for in your child’s behaviour:
- cutting back on the time she is outside, or plays with friends, plays sports and doing other social activities in order to use the computer
- becoming withdrawn or difficult
- eating meals in front of the computer; staying up late to finish off a game; missing out on school, homework or other responsibilities
- talking only and all the time about games and the computer while losing interest in other hobbies
- fantasising about computer characters
- becoming upset and irrational when asked to turn the computer off or becoming aggressive or withdrawn.
What parents can do
- Learn more about the internet - become comfortable with the technology (you don’t have to become an expert).
- Talk to your child’s school about their on-line policy - one that parents can also put into practice at home.
- Select a reliable service provider and discuss children’s online safety with them.
- The computer that is on-line should be in a family area, not in a bedroom or behind closed doors.
- Teach your child from a very young age to be a critical viewer, to understand and talk about what he sees and what it means. Help him to understand how advertising works.
- Pay attention to what your child is doing.
- Keep track of what is going on by checking ‘Bookmarks‘ or ‘Favourites’ or the sites your child might be revisiting, eg ‘Options ’, ‘Preference’ or ‘History’ (via the icons on the menu bar).
- Teach your child to say "No" to messages and to leave a site that makes him feel uncomfortable.
- Teach your child never to give out his name or the names of friends.
- Ask your child to talk to you before filling in any forms, questionnaires or competitions.
- Encourage your child to only use monitored chat lines designed for his own age group and to be himself when on-line.
- If your child or teenager wishes to meet new on-line ‘friends’ in person, supervise the meeting to make sure that they are who they say they are and that your child is safe from abuse.
- Encourage a careful approach to ‘information’ found on the internet. Remember it comes from many sources and not all is reliable.
- Tell your child never to send images of himself over the internet - they may be used for other purposes.
- Encourage your child to use chat groups or newsgroups or send email messages only with your permission and under your supervision.
- Help protect with ‘filtering’ or ‘blocking’ software’.
- Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, or threatening. Encourage your child to report such experiences to you and discuss these matters calmly. Forward a copy of any such messages to your service provider and ask for assistance.
- Should you become aware of any child pornography online note the details and report the matter to Crime Stoppers, phone 1800 333 000.
- Don’t let your child engage in on-line shopping.
- As the internet can be addictive always set a time limit.
- Your child may use the internet in a friend’s home, so choose carefully where you allow your child to spend time. Talk with the parent about the use of the internet in their home.
- Be prepared to make a complaint about internet content to the Australian Broadcasting Authority (see Want more information?)
…and about computer games
- Monitor what your child buys or obtains by looking at the classification labels on the cover.
- Keep track of where the software is coming from, eg the internet, friends, software pirates.
- Ask to join in and have a go. Ask what games are played most often. Take note of your child’s reactions as he plays the game. Does he become aggressive, frightened or upset?
- Together make very clear rules in your home about switch on and off times.
How much time is okay?
- Screen-based media, that is, TV, videos and computers, can be a ‘time thief’.
- Young Media Australia recommends:
- children under 2 years – very little time watching TV or using a computer
- preschoolers – an hour a day of programs made for preschool children is plenty (A strong view held by The Alliance for Childhood is that computers should not play a significant part in preschool children’s lives.)
- children 5-7 or 8 years – an hour a day is plenty
- children over 8 years – an hour and a half-hour to two hours a day is plenty.
- While there are many entertaining experiences for children to be had on TV, videos and computers, it is important to keep in mind what children need at different ages for their healthy development.
Children especially need time to build strong bonds with real and caring people, time for active physical play and ‘hands-on’ activities of all kinds.
Reminders
- Parents can make a big difference in reducing the risks for their children by making sensible rules and knowing what their children are doing.
- Learn more about the internet - become comfortable with this technology.
- Teach your children to be selective and explain why it is so important.
- Consider buying filtering software.
- Check regularly the sites that are used.
- Make clear rules about the amount of time spent with screen based media.
- Children’s time with TV and computers needs to be kept in balance with time in the real world with real people.
South Australia
- Children, Youth and Women's Health Service
Parent Helpline - any time, every day. Ph. 1300 364 100.
Australia
- Young Media Australia (YMA) for information about the impact of the media on children.
- Helpline - 1800 700 357 for support or fact sheets
(free call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- www.youngmedia.org.au
- Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) Australia's regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications
http://www.acma.gov.au/
- Netalert, Internet safety body of Australia, set up by the Australian government to provide independent advice and education on managing access to online content. New ways of filtering content on the internet are being developed and tested all the time.
http://www.netalert.gov.au/
- Parenting SA
http://www.parenting.sa.gov.au
Written in partnership
Child and Youth Health - Parenting SA
Young Media Australia
Related Parent Easy Guide (Parenting SA website - PDF format)
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.