For Shelly's Research on Children and the Internet

sheknows.com/parenting/articles/810053/how-to-monitor-your-kids-on-the-web

I've been really interested in Shelly's research regarding children and the internet. For many years now, it seems like the general consensus has been that children should not be on the internet because the internet is not a safe place for them. Indeed, I found some studies that backed this claim up. However, with the growing importance of the internet in business and daily life, some are advocating that children ought to be using the internet. Those claiming that children ought to be using the internet do not believe that children should be able to use the internet freely, or without guidlines, but that rather parents should be proactive in teaching their children good internet use. They should teach their children about improper internet use and help steer them away from pornographic sites. There are movements going on too to stop images that would harm children, or child abuse online (see the article about Google and
Microsoft below).

After doing just a little bit of research, it seems that children should be able to get on the internet with proper parental guidance. The internet is a tool that can be used, like most, for good or evil. But with proper guidance it can be an amazing tool for creativity, schoolwork, and scholarship. Instead of steering children away from the internet, let's guide them through it.

I hope these links help you in your research Shelly! Best of luck!

Articles

Kids on the Internet: It's a Good Thing

Family and Media: A New POLIS Report

Google and Microsoft Agree Steps to Block Abuse Images

What Are They Doing Online?

Scholarly Articles

Children, Adolescents, and the Internet: A New Field of Inquiry in Developmental Psychology

Guide and Seek

Long Term Study of Safe Internet Use of Young Children

Personality and Motivations Associated with Facebook Use

Opposition to Consider

While Their Kids Sleep, These Parents Pull of This Amazing Stunt

The Children's Internet Protection Act

Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches to Outpatient Treatment of Internet Addiction in Children and Adolescents

Why are Children Attracted to the Internet? The Role of Need Satisfaction Perceived Online and Perceived in Daily Real Life