The Internet - Not Always a Waste of Time

HOW KIDS AND TEENS BENEFIT FROM CYBERSPACE
The Positive Side of Digital Media
by Venice Kirchura
March 2009

Parents worried their kids and teens waste too much time online can be relieved that much of their children’s online life is beneficial, according the University of California researcher Mizuko Ito. A 2008 done by Ito shows spending time online isn’t always a waste of time and that time in cyberspace helps kids acquire technical and social skills to compete in the digital age, as well as gain encouragement and feedback from their online peers

Online with Face-to-Face Friends

Interestingly, the study showed that most kids hang out online with people they already know from their offline lives, such as through school or sports. Besides the internet, cell phones, texting, instant messaging and social networks keep them in almost continual contact with one another.

Digital Media Offers Technical Skills

Thanks to a wealth of online information, teens learn valuable computer skills such as how to create web pages, blogs, PDF files and other technical abilities which they can later use in college and in their careers. On the other hand, if they can’t find what they want to know, they can always post questions on teen message boards or ask others on social networking sites.

Literary Contests

Young people who are more right-brained than left-brained can log on to web sites that challenge their creative skills. For example, FaithWriters for Kids was created from its parental website, FaithWriters.com to offer young writers opportunities to compete in weekly writing contests. Although much of the writing is geared in a spiritual direction, other entries for the weekly challenges are also acceptable.

Ages are divided into groups ranging from ages 7-8 to 13-14 for writing in various genres such as poetry, nonfiction or creative writing. Older teens may compete in the adults’ FaithWriters Weekly Challenges, giving them head starts for possible journalism or writing careers.

Online Chess Club

Kids and teens who want to horn their chess playing skills can log onto chessclub.com. Not only will they get to play chess with other players around the world but can also make friends. What’s more they can learn from the best as ChestClub.com offers some of the finest chess instructors world-wide. Rather than use only one teacher, kids can try different instructors, finding one that suites them best.

Social Benefits

Social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Utube are linking teens, globally, with friends having similar interests, as well as helping them academically. Surprising, one of the most common topics on these social networking sites is education. According to 2007 by the National School Boards Association and Grunwalk Associates, 60 percent of online students discuss subjects relating to college plans and careers.

Limits and Warnings

Limit “friends” on social networks. Although the digital age offers more opportunities in grow in knowledge and in global friendship, it also presents more challenges. For example, social networking sites can lure kids to predators if they’re too open to accepting “friends” who are strangers. Parents should warn their children to limit the friends they include and not give out inappropriate information when prompted.

Although teens can benefit from digital media parents should still guard their kids from becoming addicted to the internet and other technical toys. Although it’s a valuable tool, it shouldn’t turn into a lifestyle where young people don’t learn how to socialize in an offline life, as well. That’s why kids should be urged to take part in some of those old-fashioned pastimes as sports, board games and other activities that don’t call for computers.