(Admittedly, haven't read any other replies) It's not so much the internet to blame as it is the specific content being accessed. There was a time when TV was blamed for various things, but when you review everything, it has greatly to do with what is being watched. Same goes with the internet--if all you do is chat and participate in social websites, then you can't really expect to put your vocabulary to good use, nor can you expect to learn much more; but, it is possible to read novels online (Literature.org, for example, has the entire Sherlock Holmes series, free to access).

Also, you can't put all of the blame on the internet. Where are the parents that are allowing their children to waste time online instead of study? Where are the parents who sit down with their children and review vocabulary words to help encourage their children to expand their vocab? It seems to me like they're becoming more and more scarce; either the parents are claiming to have no time, or they simply expect the schools to deal with it all.

Parents can help their children by FORCING them to get off the internet and go outside and play, go to the library, or even pick up a good book and read. We had internet when I was in HS, but you would commonly find my mother and myself sitting outside on nice days after chores, each of us with a book.

My children both love to play games, some of which are online. Yet, their vocabulary hasn't suffered at all from it. The reason for this is because of parental interaction.

That's really what this debate, and numerous others concerning children well-being, boils down to.

The debate continues:
Internet Reading: Speeding Us Up by Dumbing Us Down?
www.kcrw.com/news/programs/tp/tp080801internet_reading_spe

I think there's no substitute for a great book, because books and stories require children to think critically. It's also important that children read texts that will expand their vocabulary--texts that use the "rare words" not heard in conversations with friends or on social networking sites.

That said, the Internet can be a terrific source for fiction and fact, as well as a place to publish your own writings.

Parents worried about kids reading too much online should ask and answer questions about what they're reading. Encourage them to read news sites that will expand their vocabulary and world knowledge. Ask questions that require them to think deeply, develop opinions and define their identity.

sorry --- I didnt actually read anyone elses answers at the time, I didnt mean to discount your arguements. Actually it was a very good one at that. =) There are many websites aimed to help children with different reading strategies and things of that nature. Now, if the children are aware of these websites and actually using them to their benefit that would be great.

After almost reading the entire article (albeit, I stopped at the end of page 3), what stuck out in my mind was how some countries are dealing with students and internet reading/testing. This idea sort of falls into the other question in the Community of how we help our children compete in the global marketplace. It seems that some other countries embrace the internet quicker than the U.S.

For my two kids, I encourage reading books. And it shouldn't become a "lost art."

However, the internet is a great way to do research, and, it opens the world up to all. Our world is changing so fast, and the internet keeps up with those changes. Also, many of our schools use outdated books in the classroom. Using the internet, in addition to up-to-date books, can only benefit our children.

Using technology in a wise manner can only benefit our children, and our future.

Hey Folks -

Yeah - agreeing with Michellea -- my question wasn't aimed at implying that the Internet is a bad thing (thanks, Michellea, for point that out). In fact, the article is pretty typical in spreading the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) of the Internet.

And yet, it still resonates with me. I do wonder whether the transformation in communication technology has any ill effects and, if so, what I can do to mitigate them for my child.

Based on this thread, I land on a consistent note: Not only is the Internet here to stay, but as parents interested in our child's educational success, we'd be all best served to understand the ins-and-outs of social media like Facebook, MySpace, etc. since these are the ways that our children are (and will...) communicate with each other.

In this spirit, it seems like these technologies do not pose a question of *whether* they are good, but *how* we can better participate with them.

--Dave

Brat -
I don't think that Dave is saying that the WWW is bad. What the discussion asks is whether or not the WWW (and other technology) is reducing time spent reading books and whether or not this will change things like attentions span, critical thinking, literacy skills.

Also - it sounds like you are passionate about the virtues of the WWW. However, when you use the word "crap" to describe discussion around the pros and cons, I immediately feel that my perspective is discounted and that you are making fun. My initial reaction is to become defensive. I think others may feel the same. Unfortunately, this could discourage further discussion and create a hostile interaction.

Could you please try to stick to telling us how certain things make you feel rather than using derogatory words to describe what others think? I think this will help us be open to your opinion and maintain a positive discussion.

Im so tired of hearing all this negative crap about the internet. It's the world-wide-web. Where you can find anything at anytime about anything. The websites are there to make your life easier. You read all the time, it should be like second nature by now; and what could you possibly be reading that would destroy your literacy. ??? The two things do not even coincide. . . not in my mind at least. just my two cents. =)

it's not wreaking anything if they have a time limit and let kids use it freely for educational purposes

Healthy11, your point is well taken. I agree that the internet is a better use of time than television or video games for kids who don't enjoy reading, since it does involve some form of reading.

My fear is that the harm of the internet is greater than the benefits - there are LOTS of kids that don't struggle with reading in the same way as your son but that have never developed patience with reading. I know there is a huge difference between a dyslexic child and a child who just thinks reading is less exciting than other options. I think the internet will just continue to influence such kids to think reading should be as quick and easy as possible, rather than allowing them to really experience a challenging read.

I guess what I would like to see is the Internet being used as a resource for kids like your son, who need to find less overwhelming ways to interact with text and information, without flooding all of the other kids with so much distraction and sound-bite info that they never bother to learn to read.

I think a lot of this is on the parents. My parents kept us pretty separate from TV and the internet until they considered us largely adults, and without such easy distractions we were forced to develop interests in more introspective, quiet pursuits. However, you are able to see that your son benefits from a different approach. I would hope that all parents would regulate their children's access to the internet and other forms of media in a way that makes sense for their child. I hope that makes sense!

bookreader4, you posed the question, "What effect is it having on kids who never particularly enjoyed reading?"

I don't know if my teen is representative, but as a bright yet dyslexic student with ADHD, the internet is giving him exposure to vocabulary and ideas that he would never otherwise obtain. I wish my son shared my enjoyment of reading, but he doesn't, and to him the thought of picking up a thick, "boring" book is overwhelming. He does, however, read news articles and do research into topics that interest him on the internet, and I doubt very much that he would do that if he was relegated to print-form only information sources. The internet is a positive factor in his case.

I read that article too! It was terrifying to me, as it made me confront some facts about my lifestyle that I was already somewhat aware of.

I'm a college student, and reading has always been my thing, whether locked in my room all day in the summer finishing book after book or reading in the hallways as I walked from class to class (I'm not even kidding). As I reached the end of high school, I made some friends and became more social, which led me to read a bit less - but I still loved it. When I started college, as an English major, I bought my first computer. I fell in love. I use it to write papers, often late at night while paging feverishly through reference books, but also to surf the web. I read blogs, forums, and newspaper articles. How many books have I read for fun over the past two years? When I stopped one day to think about how much less I was reading, I decided to start reading for fun more often. I was shocked to discover how hard it was to start again. I had to pay much closer attention and think much harder to follow the ideas in full books. I started reading only for short periods of time because I couldn't maintain my concentration. Even this summer, as I've been determined to follow a reading list with some friends, I keep falling behind because it's EASIER to fill my time consuming bite-sized amounts of information from the Web.

I am concerned by the line of thought that this is a positive thing, that kids are learning how to think unconventionally and adapting to the digital age. Having a shorter attention span and preferring bite-sized bits of information is easy; it's the longer attention span and capacity for more in-depth thought that needs to be learned. Even more frighteningly, as I'm discovered, it's the second that can be lost so quickly.

What concerns me most is that I was practically a poster child for bookworms, and still the Internet noticeably affected my love for reading in just a few short months. What effect is it having on kids who never particularly enjoyed reading? Last night I instituted a new rule: Only an hour and a half of internet per day (excluding work). I hope to fill the hours of time I'm opening up with some really focused reading. I only hope it can help!

I'm not sure if science knows for sure how the internet is impacting lieracy, thinking, attention. But I think it is safe today, that our children today behave differently than we did because of the internet, cellphones/texting, IM etc.

I don't like what it is doing from a social devleopment standpoint or from an instant gratification standpoint.

As far as literacy - I had the pleasure of hearing Mary Anne Wolf speak this sprint. She is a leading neuroscientest/literacy expert. She has some great concerns about the impact of the digital age on our brains.

You may enjoy this interview on NPR:
"Now, neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf says yes, but it's more than that. The human brain, she says, is endlessly pliable. A generation of research that began on the humble squid shows that the very act of reading itself actually shapes the human brain. And reading has shaped our history, our culture, our civilization.

Now, in the digital age, we are reading less. She sees devolution." www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/04/20080411_b_main.asp