The Internet and children: Advantages and disadvantages

This article examines how the Internet has entered children's lives and notes some of its potential positive and negative influences on children. Although the Internet's effects on a given child vary based on each child's characteristics and how the child uses the Internet, adults still must have a fundamental understanding of these general potentials. An awareness of the hazards inherent to children's Internet use is essential for all who work with children so they can apply preventive measures and help keep children safe. Whether a child uses the Internet and how a child uses the Internet significantly impact the Internet's influence on him or her. A child's personality and developmental needs also inevitably modify the Internet's influence on him or her.