Kids always online, is it alarming?
By WATARIKENJI
@WATARIKENJI (1534)
Philippines
January 21, 2010 8:03am CST
Do you agree that kids must spend less time on the web. Research shows that they are wasting more of their time on tech gadgets.
Are your kids awake? They’re online
By: Tamar Levin
New York Times
Study shows youth spend virtually every waking minute there
The average young American now spends practically every waking minute — except for the time in school — using a smart phone, computer, television or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Those ages 8 to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day with such devices, compared with less than six and a half hours five years ago, when the study was last conducted. And that does not count the hour and a half that youths spend texting, or the half-hour they talk on their cellphones.
And because so many of them are multitasking — say, surfing the Internet while listening to music — they pack on average nearly 11 hours of media content into that seven and a half hours.
Regards
2 people like this
17 responses
@quickstar (268)
• India
21 Jan 10
There is a saying that "EXCESS OF EVERYTHING IS BAD".
This will definitely answer to your problem.
in this 21st century one need to and have to be involved in technology.
for more about how much people are dependent on technology , refer to my discussion about a day without computer.
well, it is alarming the usage u told about .
childhood is the moulding period , when a child learns as many things as he/she can.
but today situation is getting worsened due to this torrential use of tech by kids
@WATARIKENJI (1534)
• Philippines
23 Jan 10
Hi friend
Nice insight.
It is really something to consider especially in the developmental stage of the child
Regards
@savypat (20216)
• United States
21 Jan 10
All I can say is that there were warnings out when my children were young about the time they spent watching TV they are all in their 50s now. It seem with each generation who activities change do to new techno. advancements there come dire warnings about their lives being ruined. Now I agree that their lives will be different, and who can predict what the outcome will be, there is no way back to the way things use to be at this stage in the world.
@WATARIKENJI (1534)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
I think it is up to the individual's self control and will power.
Regards
@thebestmom (1104)
• Philippines
23 Jan 10
yes, that is why i do not allow them to go online on weekends except for research. and on weekends they are allowed for onlu 1 hour a day. and i also do not buy them gadgets like PSP or DS, i told them that playing online games is enough, if not, all of their time will be consumed on internet only.
@ramplified_17 (105)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
I think that being online most of the time has good and bad effects.
Firstly the internet is the best source of information nowadays. Form education to fashion to news, it is an all in one powerful tool. Try to look at it this way, there are lots of things that you can learn when you spend time online.
On the negative side, It can actually be a waste of time. It can also be very dangerous when addiction enters the scene. Money, time and health are the major factors that can be affected when online.
@Firestorm0122 (735)
• United States
23 Jan 10
I feel that teenagers and younger children do not need to spend so much time on the Web. First, comes responsibility, such as school, homework, and chores. Then comes socializing with their friends they go to school with, and any out door activity at least one to two hours a day.
Only then, do I feel it's okay for them to be online. Kids these days still have a lot of energy, and being cooped up hours on end can deplete that energy making them depressed with a lack of exercise, and lack of sleep. The web can be very distracting from all things.
@cherrycoffee33 (5)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
Yes, today's kids should spend less time surfing the Internet and parents should limit the time of Internet usage of their children. My nephew is a huge example of a kid who is an Internet addict. According to my sister, my nephew spends a huge time surfing the Internet or playing online games. The result: he's overweight for his age!1 He's only 10 years old but his waist size is like that of an adult man. He was advised not to stay online for too long and to be more active. You have to take note that most of the kids would also eat at the same type as they also surf the Internet. It is also alarming to see that most of these kids are obese.
The thing here is we should always use technology responsibly. After all, we are the ones who will suffer dire consequences if we abuse it.
@drakesuyat (1063)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
oh we were just scolding my niece this morning because she never told us where she was last night and caught up playing at an internet cafe near our place. we were all worried coz after lunch, she went back to school and arrived 9pm and didnt even ask permission neither told anyone around that she'll arrive late! she even intentionally leave her cellphone so as not to disturb her from playing. how about that?
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
Kids should not be allowed to use the computer for long actually. That will deprive them of the opportunity to live a normal life. That will deprive them the opportunity to play and socialize with fellow children. Besides it will destroy their eyesight at early age. The internet is good but it has to be used properly. Children has no business surfing the net yet. They should rather enjoy their childhood normally instead of spending time in front of the computer. They can engage in games that will require their physical body to move more and where they can go outdoor and breathe fresh air too.
@janeajozelle (197)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
yeah, they are addicted and parents could not control them they have a lot of fun, unless parents cut the internet or else they also go to their friend computer to chat so their is no way to control then.
@lipstick2009 (1236)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
I think kids should spend more time with their assignments and learning stuffs from school.They can be allowed to use the computer only if its necessary to do researches or if they have done all they have to do at home and things related to their studying.
Besides, prolonged exposure to gamma rays is bad for the eyes isn't it.
Surfing should be a hobby and mustnt disorient them from the face that education is top priority and not playing online games or social networking.
@xiaozhoushuwu (84)
• China
22 Jan 10
all of my friends either have their family computers in the livingroom, rec room or in the kitchen. all of them read up on how to "cyber-proof" your children. your question should be a wake up call to anyone who does not do that. computers should be in a well-travelled/supervised area of the house.
@lovestrings (16)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
I'm young but I feel like I spend too much time on the computer. I'm trying not to use it for so long, but it's hard..
@Agentkung (13)
•
22 Jan 10
I wouldnt worry kids have the time to do that, really the capabilitys of the internet should be used at a young age to get equired to it theres so much out there.
@Shadenfrauder (355)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
I agree. While it is great that kids today are technologically-savvy, they are missing on a lot of things outside the house. They could be learning sports, or learning instruments, or interacting with other kids - instead, they're glued in front of the PC, mostly online gaming.
It IS alarming and it's time we do something, especially now with climate change. A time might come that we can't enjoy a cloudless day or a windy afternoon, forced to be inside our houses. Talking to our kids about what we used to do in the past, as kids, can be a start.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
Yes, it is quite alarming. Spending to much time on this is not healthy anymore. It is sad to note that this things are happening with your kids. But being parents, I am sure that we can do something considering that we can control and impose limitations.
