“Mum, I’m doing my Homework.”
Are your children telling you they’re doing homework but really on Facebook?
Newlands Girls school conducted a survey to see how much time the average year 9 pupil spends on Facebook.
The results show that 38 spent less than two hours, 10 spent between two and four hours and just two spent between four and six hours.
The survey suggests that most people spend less than two hours, with only a few people seriously addicted.
Facebook addict Holly said “ I spend over four hours a day on Facebook, mainly just to talk to friends.”
A Newlands teacher says ”I know of one student who is behind with coursework, instead of doing that she spends her time on Facebook.”
Parents don't seem to know if their children are doing homework or chatting to friends on Facebook. They should be more aware of what their kids get up to on the internet. There are many risks in having these social networking sites if you are not carful.
The number of hours your children spend sitting at the computer on Facebook can affect their general behaviour. Many of the younger generation use Facebook to connect with friends.
There is no way to prevent anyone posing as a child in order to befriend or groom someone and social networking has recently been criticised for providing a means for bullying to take place. A 17-year-old girl, who arranged to meet up with a 33-year-old man posing as a 19-year-old, through Facebook, was murdered.