Today children in their younger age itself happen to spend a lot of time online. For some people this rising Internet time is a matter of a little concern whereas there some others who feel that today’s children cannot do without being online.

• Do you think the first opinion has got some relevance?
• How far is it right to say that being online is inevitable for children?

The Net is here to stay and not many can do without it. As a matter of fact, the rising internet time found among young children leaves a little room for worry. However, the fact remains that it has become part of their life in more ways than one.

When it comes to the concerns, it is right to say that there are some pitfalls. Children are children and they are prone to influences of all types. Naturally, the Net, being a virtual platform that remains spread across the world, poorly informed and misguided children may fall prey to many unhealthy practices. For example, community cites like Facebook, Tweeter and Blogs are useful only if they are wisely managed. Else, children may get trapped in cyber based snares and their associated criminal, asocial behaviours. There is a little danger, of course.

All the dangers notwithstanding, modern children cannot keep themselves off the possibilities of the Net. Inquisitive and enterprising little kids can reap great benefits out of the borderless possibilities out of the Internet. This is more so when it is juxtaposed to today’s fast changing academic ambience. Here every child is expected to find material and information to meet their specific academic requirements and personal expectations. For example, today’s curriculum is more activity and research oriented than text-based or teacher-centered. Here the Internet can do children great favours.

In short, what I feel is that Internet-based problems and prospects for children are just relative. So it is difficult to say that it is all the way harmful for all children or it is equally useful for all. It depends on how children are guided to the Net. Better parenting needs to make the Internet child-safe.

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