Pattern of Internet Use and Knowledge and Practices in School Children

Abstract

Study background AACCI - Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India conducts multicentric youth behaviour studies in India. The results are shared with the school and intervention programs are held. This paper analyses the pattern of internet use knowledge and practices in school children Abbreviations AACCI - _Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India Methods Cross sectional study. All children studying in class 6th to 10th (n=377) age range 11-16 yrs. -coed, elite, english medium school in North Delhi. Due permissions from parents and assent from participants taken. Ethical clearance was given by AACCI ethics committee Results n= 377 – Boys 66% (249) , girls 34% (128) . Majority i.e. 86.20% (325)) used internet and 29.2% (95) used for more than two hours a day. The favourite activities in 37.23% (121) were Internet games. 80% (259) had personal facebook account ;63.32% (164) have more than 100 facebook friends. Safety precautions analysis showed -a) majority i.e. 95% (246) believed that it is not right to post embarrassing personal information about self or friends. b) 21% (62) had facebook friends- not met in real life. c) Only 81% (239) students discuss internet experience with their parents; d) 47% (122) were not aware that information uploaded by them is tracked and stored and can be used by companies to make profits. e) Only 69% (203) used privacy settings and had detailed knowledge about cyber bullying. Conclusions Majority are not taking basic precautions like using privacy settings on the facebook. Since 34% (100) do not inform parents about their online activities, they are vulnerable to exploitation on the net and can also be tempted to go on inappropriate sites. We conducted a workshop in this school for students, parents and teachers on cyber safety and monitoring teen internet use. This is the need of the hour