According to an article in the New York Times from January 2010, the average child from ages 8 to 18

spends over 7½ hours a day using technologically advanced devices. This time consists of 2½ hours of
music, nearly 5 hours of television and movies, three hours of internet and video games, and just 38
minutes of old-fashioned reading, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which sums up to 75 hours
a week! These statistics are not just numbers; they are a reflection of the path our society has taken.
There is a direct correlation between the number of hours spent on gadgets to obesity, low marks,
anxiety, violence, and a loss of interest in family life.

The role and place of the internet in children's lives has been a long-held topic in recent years. More
and more researchers are looking to see the effects of frequent use of the internet, social networks and
online gaming. The Internet is an unlimited source of diverse information from countless domains and
can be both beneficial and harmful to those who use it, especially children who are more and more
interested and attracted to this virtual world full of curiosities and unknowns.

I think the internet's effect on children are very much related to how it is used. Therefore, frequent
use of the Internet by children can be damaging. Although the Internet can establish or maintain remote
relationships (friends or relatives from another city or elsewhere), it is more often superficial
relationships that prevent genuine, direct contact between the two. At the same time, time spent online
can have serious consequences on physical and mental health, such as sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue,
isolation, loss of interest and neglect of activities related to school, and time spent with family and
friends.

A negative effect would be that information in which the virtual environment abounds is not always
selected and the child is vulnerable to more threats. One of these is the early exposure to pornography
which can have serious consequences such as premature sexual intercourse, engaging in sexual behaviors
without or having a regard to contraceptive information and methods of preventing sexually transmitted
diseases, and even the risk of deviant sexual behaviors. In addition to content with obscene content,
there are many sites and materials that encourage or promote violence, which can easily influence the
most vulnerable.

To help children use social networks in a constructive manner and to avoid exposing them to certain
risks, I think it is important that children's access to the Internet is monitored and limited for their
protection. Although some social networks do not support users under the age of 18, more and more
parents feel helpless in keeping their children in control and the time they spend on Facebook, Twitter
and so on. It is important to discuss with the child about their needs and expectations regarding the use
of the social network, but also about the potential dangers they are exposed to. They must be taught to
protect themselves and communicate with their parents whenever they receive a sexual, abusive, or
threatening message and whenever personal information, data or pictures are required in various
contexts. To achieve this, an open, sincere and trusting parent-child relationship is essential.

Parents who leave their child unsupervised for a long time and have access to the internet can use
free web content and parental content filtering programs, or a paid one to limit children's access to
certain websites and time spent in the virtual environment. Although not all parents know of these
options or are not interested in them, it is very important to consider using such programs to reduce the
dangers to which their children are exposed to. Communicating with the child is fundamental in
establishing a clear program and rules on how to use the Internet, discussing the dangers, ways to defend
themselves against potential aggressors, protecting their privacy online (how to refuse or block certain
contacts, do not provide personal information to strangers, etc.), but also about the child's priorities
(educational, sports, recreational, etc.) over time spent online and the long-term consequences of over
Internet usage.

In conclusion, the Internet is the evolution and is an increasing part of our lives, and it is an
inexhaustible source of information. Although the online environment offers many benefits to younger
users, it is the duty of adults and parents to protect their children and help them develop harmoniously,
avoid dangers, establish a relationship based on communication and trust, and enjoy the innocence of
this period of life in a world where technology and science are progressing more and more rapidly.