Survey: Parents believe Facebook and Twitter are dangerous

by Steven Mostyn - Jul 6 2011, 06:36

Ask Facebook and Twitter users how they feel about their social platform of choice and, chances are, you’ll be told they’re an important communication tool allowing members to remain closely connected with friends and family.

However, new survey research offered up by Internet charity Nominet Trust suggests that 80 percent of parents believe their children are in danger of becoming addicted to social networking services.

Worried parents also apparently believe that intensive long-term use of leading networks such as Facebook and Twitter can even “rewire” the brains of their unwittingly vulnerable offspring.

Clearly keen to distance itself from the views of the poll’s respondents, Nominet has been quick to point out that there is absolutely no evidence to support the notion that social networking is addictive or that online activity can change brain waves.

“The Nominet Trust believes in the Internet as a force for social good,” Nominet director Annika Small told UK broadsheet The Telegraph. “Exaggerated fears about Internet use can potentially deny its benefits to those most in need.”

Other concerns thrown up by the poll reveal that more than a third of parents think the Net poses a risk to the welfare of their kids, while some 61 percent believe surveys spun in favour of the Net are actually funded by organisations with vested interests.

Oh dear.

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