Children and Internet: a revolution within the family

Résumé du document

The Internet Revolution is not only a technological revolution, but also a revolution within a family, as it influences the development of children and relationships within the family. My cousin is 9 years old and I can see big differences in the use of Internet between her and me at the same time. I explained to her that I grew up without 'MSN Messenger' and she felt really sorry for me. Actually, with Internet and her cell phone, she develops a very secret private life, whereas my friends had to call me on a landline phone, which my parents picked up before I could talk to them, when I was a child. If the differences are already important between a child aged 9 and me aged 22, I can imagine the gap existing between a child and its parents childhood, they can no more apply the same education they received because of the emergence of Internet within the family life. Indeed, Internet has risks for children and young people but it is also a source of autonomy, creativity and knowledge as it will be explained in this essay.

Extraits

[...] The phenomena of ”happy slapping” shows very well how Internet can be dangerous for children and young people, who do not really understand the consequences of such violences and just use Internet as a way to share videos. The issue of paedophilia on the Internet is very important. Some associations have been created with adults, who try to find paedophiles on chat rooms and the transnational cooperation between national authorities (e.g : police), institutions and associations is very well developed on this issue. However, such a risk still exists for children especially in chat rooms. [...]

[...] References Books and Articles Bengtsson Eva Media Developments. Haninge: The Swedish Radio and Television Authority Brembeck Helen, Barbro Johansson and Kampman Jan, Introduction, p.7-29 in Brembeck Helene, Johansson Barbro and Kampman Jan (eds.), Beyond the competent child. Exploring contemporary childhoods in the Nordic welfare societies, Roskilde University Press: Frederiksberg 2004. Buckingham David and Willet Rebekah Digital Generations : Children, Young People and New Media Johnsson-Smaragdi Ulla, d´Haenens Leen, Krotz Friedrich and Hasebrink Uwe, Patterns of Old and New Media among Young People in Flanders, Germany and Sweden, European Journal of Communication, Vol.13, No p.479- Livingstone Sonia, Children On-Line : Emerging Uses of the Internet at Home, available from World Wide Web : http://www.infoamerica.org/documentos_pdf/livingstone05.pdf Satka Mirja & Björk Eydal Gudny, The History of Nordic Welfare Policies for Children, p.33-62, in Brembeck Helene, Johansson Barbro and Kampman Jan (eds.), Beyond the competent child. [...]

[...] Indeed, Internet is for children a new source of information and knowledge but also a new technology of communication and socialization. This can be a tool of development for the child but the risks they and their parents have to deal with are huge and will be develop in the next parts. Internet contains a very diverse range of opportunities and advantages for children which can be resume as : “creativity about content production, social and political expression, activism and community involvement, gaining valued technological expertise, advancing careers or employment, obtaining personal, health and sexual advice [without having to inform their parents], accessing educational and information resources, participating in identity, specialist or fan forums and sharing a common culture” (Buckingham and Willet, 2006). [...]

[...] Another interesting question about the increasing use of Internet by children is how it affects their use of other media. Is their a risk that they do not use the other media and so lack of a certain kind of knowledge? Indeed books are often associated by children and even more by teenagers with school and their parents whereas Internet is a symbole of modernity and excitement. However, Sweden seems to be an exception in comparison with Germany and Flanders (Johnsson-Smaragdi, d´Haenens, Krotz and Hasebrink, 1998). [...]

[...] Moreover they learn to establish goals and agendas, to adapt to new situations and to accept and obey to some rules (Buckingham and Willet, 2006). Swedish node for internet safety awareness and Swedish Media Council Sweden established institutions to deal with the risks that children can encounter on the Internet. The Swedish Media Council, formerly the Council on Media Violence, was created in 1990 and is a Committee of Inquiry in the Government Offices. Its goal is to reduce the risks for harmful effects of the media on children and young people. [...]