| At present there are around 400 million users | | | | same. Here are some tips for keeping good |
| that log on to the World Wide Web regularly for | | | | control over internet usage: |
| personal and professional work. Daily internet | | | | 1. Parents should spend quality time with their kids |
| usage is at a higher level than ever before. The | | | | and get more actively involved in their lives. This |
| Internet or the Web as it is commonly known, | | | | is to say that parents should be aware of things |
| has come a long way from being a closed | | | | like who their child's friends are, what do they do |
| network meant only for the US armed forces, to | | | | when away from home, etc. |
| a totally open network for each and every | | | | 2. A very significant point to consider is to get to |
| person irrespective of their age, origin, etc. | | | | know your child better, in terms of his/her |
| Part of this tremendous growth is the fact that a | | | | interests or hobbies and present them with |
| higher number of children access the internet than | | | | opportunities to develop those hobbies further. |
| the adults in their families. Be it from homes, | | | | 3. As a parent, one should keep a regular check |
| phones, or cyber cafes, all the kids want is access | | | | on what their child is doing online, what kind of |
| to the internet, hence children are spending long | | | | sites and chat rooms he/she visits and what kind |
| hours in front of screens. | | | | of material is stored on their computers. |
| Statistics reveal that 20% of children already | | | | 4. Parents should not accept their own ignorance |
| have computers in their own rooms with access | | | | about the internet. If they are not well informed, |
| to the web, hence can receive infinite and | | | | they should not shy away from learning more |
| unstructured information. Kids of any age imitate, | | | | about the world of the web. This will help them to |
| or simply latch onto anything they see or hear on | | | | understand their child's activities better. |
| television or the internet. And with time being a | | | | 5. Parents should put a limit on daily internet usage |
| major constraint for parents, the risk of | | | | so as to prevent their teenager from becoming |
| dependence and obsession with the web is huge | | | | an internet addict. |
| with children who are subjected to the Internet | | | | 6. They should keep a look out for the early signs |
| without tough parental controls. | | | | of internet addiction like mood swings, irritability, |
| The key then, to put a stop to the web addiction | | | | and anxiety over not being allowed access. |
| is to inculcate in kids strong values, and educate | | | | Parents should closely monitor the personality |
| them about effective internet usage. Parents | | | | changes as well as excessive behavioral |
| should guide their offspring on how to use the | | | | alterations in their child. |
| internet and create a healthy environment for the | | | | |