A new study from the Nominet Trust has found that an overwhelming majority of parents fear their children are getting addicted to social networking site Facebook.
The research also found that one-in-12 people is excessively dependant on the Internet. It also found that the "addiction" causes anger, depression and tension when users do not have access to the Internet.
Four-out-of-five parents fear that their children will become addicted to Facebook, while one-in-three parents think the Internet can ‘rewire’ the minds of children without their knowledge.
Deterioration of eyesight has also been observed in children who use the Internet for over three hours everyday.
However, Nominet said that the Internet has positive effects as well and ‘scaremongering and misinformation’ could deny the benefits it has to offer to children.
Nominet director Annika Small said, ‘The Nominet Trust believes in the Internet as a force for social good. We fund projects that help people get online, be safe online, and change their world for the better.
"Exaggerated fears about Internet use can potentially deny its benefits to those most in need.
"I want to see a proper debate amongst policy makers, based on accurate research, about the effects of using interactive technologies on young people’s brains, behaviours and attitudes, without resorting to scaremongering that parents are being subjected to on a regular basis.
"Our aim is to provide people with a clear and independent information resource that will help them navigate the minefield of misleading information on Internet use.
"And our grassroots projects open up the positive benefits the Internet can have for everyone who uses it."
