10 Year Olds Online Usage survey results in the UK

[pomjim 0]

I have just read the following article. Do you think that the amount of time they spend on the net is ok, too much or not enough?

 

Personally I think that at 10, a kid should enjoy actually "living", as in doing somehting active, more than sitting down in front of a computer screen, but perhaps that view reflects my age (55)??

 

LONDON - UK 10-year-olds enjoy going online more than playing with their pets, shopping and texting friends according to a new study.

 

The nationwide survey by AOL of 500 10-year-olds also found that nearly a quarter of those with access to broadband went online every day.

 

They are more likely to go online at school (80%) than at home (70%), while 73% go online at their friends' houses and 16% use the web in their local library.

 

Like most of the rest of the population, children's favourite website was Google, which was chosen by 31% of the respondents. Nearly three quarters of 10-year-olds said "Googling" was their favourite activity, followed by using the web for school projects and playing games. Other web activities include emailing friends and using messenger services.

 

Other popular sites are CBBC (26%) and the Disney Channel (12%.)

 

Rob Mansfield, spokesman for AOL kids and teens channels, said: "Born in 1995, these children have grown up surrounded by technology and gadgets.

 

"They clearly appreciate the benefits of the internet for finding information, staying in touch with friends and family, and having fun, but it's good to see that they want a balance in their lives -- choosing to play outside, take part in sport and visit friends, as well as going online."

-----Please use the quotes tag when posting quotes-----szupie

Edited September 28, 2005 by szupie (see edit history)

[jipman 0]

Your right actually, I have a nephew who is 10, and he is able to pull off more hours of computer-time than I have, and I am 18. I got my first computer at the age of 11, which was just before I went to junior high? something like that. Anyway, all he (my nephew) does is playing counter strike :|.... I can't say that I was such an outdoor kid when I was younger, but I certainly did not spend three quarters of the day indoors, I used to be outside, playing and building cool treehouses .It is really weird, but after I got my computer, i got out less and less. Also, I seriously think it's bad for kids to computer so much. What I can see about my nephew is that he's showing signs of lacking social skills, he's kinda shy around people and stuff. (not that I am such a great social person anyway ).Finally, if we don't do something about it, humanity might just end up with every single person at home behind a computer and living there (A little like how some american people live in their cars (read something about drive through churches once)).

[pomjim 0]

I have to say that the lack of social skills you mention is something that tends to worry me about a lot of the kids today. From what I can see and hear around me, it appears that for a lot of them who spend a great deal of time at the computer, their “friends” are mostly online ones, as in people they have never actually met. In itself of course there’s nothing wrong with that, basically it could be seen as an electronic “pen-pal” type thing.But if it means that they have few real life people to relate to, then that is a problem. Conversation skills will drop, which in turn would lead to even less exposure to real people, which in turn……… etc etc, a spiral or domino affect.

[john_meikle1405241509 0]

I got my first computer at the age of 6 then I started learning since I was 7 and first went on the net at the age of 9 and im never off the blumming internet or computer and plus its too cold outside to player (Scotland, Glasgow)

[john_meikle1405241509 0]

Sorry for double posting but I ment play instead of player,

[scryoko 0]

I think it depends actually. I have to admit, I do know quite a number of kids who know how to use the computer, but then, I also do know about the same number of people who only know the very, very basics of computer -- if at all. So for me and those I know, it's a balance. But I suppose it may be different in my neighborhood seeing as the kids do go outside and play -- nearly every single day. My concern would be that I think they do not know enough about computers; the ones that I do know that use the computers only use them for playing games, chatting, or using blogs. This, while I believe helps them in the sense that their typing skills will improve, however, they do not know how to do other things... Things that will be vital in their future, especially considering the fact that we can damn well almost do anything now that there's technology. But I guess this may only be my own opinion. Though, yes, I must agree, a balance between playing outside with friends and using the computer should be the best way to go.

 

-- scryoko

[Sarah81 0]

The world is changing. 10-year-olds have their own cell phones. They were born right around the time that AOL really started to get popular, so they've never known a life without the Internet (unless the computer crashed and had to go to the repair center, of course).And I think it's great, to a degree at least, that kids are growing up with technology that even we 23-year-old people had to learn after we hit adolescence. (Having a computer in the house still wasn't very popular when I was, say, 10.)These kids will (theoretically, at least) be able to learn all this stuff easier, and they'll be able to do more with it. In theory, I mean, because it seems like a lot of the youngest users are barely able to shut down the system when an error or thunderstorm interrupts what they're doing.If parents and schools were better equipped to help their kids learn more about technology, these kids would have a better chance of being able to find decent jobs after they finish high school. Let's be real: it's REALLY hard to find something besides an entry-level, minimum-wage, unskilled-labor job if you don't know much of anything about computers/technology in general.

[MajesticTreeFrog 0]

As a person in the medical community, please get your kids some exercise. And make sure they type correctly so they don't develop carpal tunnel (like I did, though not bad, and i was able to heal without surgery). Just, you know, don't be stupid. Make sure your kids get an hour of REAL exercise each day. After that, let em do whatever.

[jcguy 0]

Well I think this problem is inevitable. This is a generation born with computers, Internet, cellphones, everything tech. They grow up to be completely at ease with the latest tech and gadgetry. It's inevitable that they'll spend long hours with the computer online.I don't think it's a problem either. It's a form of training for later employment that's so important in today's IT age.

[organicbmx 0]

also ive noticed a marked change in my eyesight for the worst since i have started really intensivly using the computer. these kid will hardly be able to see anything if they end up spending hours online.

[warbird1405241485 0]

I got my ( or actually my parents ) first computer when I was about 4 or 5 years old, I started playing games when I was about 6, probably 7. My first game was Age of Empires, a very good game for it's time with amazing graphics and a very good story ( I think the storyline is one of the best I ever saw ). Anyway, we didn't had internet in that times so I never played online. Until ........ On a rainy day in september my father got home with a surprise, after times of asking and asking we finaly got our own internet connection. In the beginning I couldn't play much because I didn't know the password. After several times of trying and sneaky looking at my mother ( she doesn't type very fast ) I found out or password. Since 1 1/2 years we got ADSL, now I can play online as much as I want. I think I'm about 3 or 4 hours online everyday, sometimes more. Of that time I think I spend 1 - 2 hours at gaming and the rest on forums ( Xisto mainly ) and chatting ( MSN ).-=Jeroen=-

[enve19 0]

When i was ten, i didnt have a computer of any kind. I actually had to make my own entertainment, i used to be out constantly playing football or cricket. This is why (in my opinion) todays kids are all overweight. I mean, if they werent just sitting in front of a computer from when they get in from school and at weekends, they might be a bit healthier. Thats all parents have to do, cut down the amount of time the kids sit there and tell them to go out and play.

[heimdall99 0]

All it means that in 10 more years those kids will graduate and make some sick games for me to enjoy :mellow:On a serious note though, i dont i find it any more damaging to the kids to be infront of computer these days versus watching tv all the time 20 years ago (except maybe the fact that kids are now jaded and "seen it all" by age of 11)

[twitch 0]

In reply to organicbmx, I use the computer everyday, sometimes I will be on it for a full twelve hours and my eyesight has not changed. In fact, I can see colour variations better because of all the colours used on the web and desktop. Remember, after every 15 minutes of staring at the screen, you need to move your eyes onto something else. For example, moving your finger towards you and away will help exercise them.And as for the threadstarter, I agree. Children should be out playing and I am 15. But on the more hand they should have the choice and they do have the choice. If children want to spend more time on their computer games and such than actually 'playing out' then that is up to them, but I also believe that it is down to the parents that they get a proportional time on the computer and socialising. That way, they can mix the two.

[anarki 0]

I say let them do what they want to, they're going to start going on computers a ton anyway, so why let them wait? just my opinion.