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Chat is least popular online peer-to-peer activity in the UK9 March 2005
A two-year study of young British people’s Internet literacy, published in February 2005, has found that while children use a number of peer-to-peer possibilities, only one in five visits chat rooms. |
The survey addressed 1500 young people in the UK, investigating their use of the Internet and their parents’ rules and practices. It found that chat ranked lowest in six types of peer-to-peer use of the Internet. Only 21% responded that they regularly visited online chat rooms. In contrast, 72% of 9-19 year olds surveyed used email, and 55% used instant messaging.
In a parallel survey of parents of 9-17 year olds, nearly two thirds said they tell their children not to use chat rooms. Less than a quarter forbid use of instant messaging and only one in 10 tell their children to avoid email.
Sonia Livingstone, co-author of the report and Professor of Psychology at the London School of Economics, said, “Restricting children and young people’s Internet use reduces the risks but also carries a cost because it reduces their opportunities online.”
The report emphasises that there is no “one size fits all” approach for parents since children have different patterns of online behaviour. However the report does advocate supportive parental practices, such as asking what children do online, keeping an eye on the screen and going online together.
| Author: |
Chris Coakley, European Schoolnet |
| Published: |
Wednesday, 9 Mar 2005 |
| Last changed: |
Tuesday, 25 Oct 2005 |
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