Schools urged to smash internet myths

[Champ]

Children are confused about the dangers posed by using the internet with some believing it puts them at risk of catching HIV or being abducted by aliens, according to research published today.

Schools should do more to address such false and exaggerated fears about the internet, which may prevent some children from exploiting its benefits, said researchers from the University of London's institute of education (IoE).

Scare stories about children meeting murderers and paedophiles online may lead parents to curtail internet access, which deprives children of its educational opportunities and prevents them from learning how to deal with common problems, such as false online advertising, said the IoE's director, Andrew Burn.

Some children confused paedophiles with hackers or thought they sent viruses via "spam" or junk emails, the IoE's centre for the study of children, youth and media found.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/children/story/0,1074,1233308,00.html?=ticker

[SmileyBoy]

1. Wow... Those are some stupid kids.

Seriously. When I was a young boy (it was the late-80's, but still), I didn't have any of those fears of computers. I just thought it was frustrating, because it could be so hard to use (they weren't as user-friendly back then).