Fewer parents approve of internet

A smaller amount of parents consider the internet a good influence in their children's lives than previously, new research has discovered.

Currently 59 percent of American parents with children aged 12 to 17 approve of the internet, contrasted to 2004 when 67 percent did, the Pew Internet and American Life Project found. And 30 percent of the parents surveyed thought that the internet did not have an influence at all on their children's lives.

Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at Pew, said: "The internet for a lot of parents is now a mature technology. "They are not in a honeymoon period with the internet anymore. They are realizing the internet is something with good and bad things." It is the content being perused by children rather than the amount of time they spend online that has parents the most concerned, the research found.

Meanwhile, Miss America, Lauren Nelson, is touring the US lecturing to children about how to stay safe online. For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com