One-third of parents believe internet can ‘rewire’ a person’s brain

MORE than one-third of parents believe the internet has the power to “rewire” brains without a person’s knowledge.

One in three believe their children are in danger from the web, and 80% believe it is possible to become addicted to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, a British study has found.

However, the Impact of Digital Technologies on Human Wellbeing report concluded that there is no neurological evidence to suggest that the internet is more effective at “rewiring” our brains than other environmental influences.

It also found that the internet is a valuable learning resource and all forms of learning cause changes within the brain.

There have been reports that use of the internet is changing the way people think, affecting their ability to concentrate.

But the Nominet Trust, which carried out the study and promotes internet projects that address social disadvantage, said that “scaremongering and misinformation” about internet use can potentially deny its benefits to people, in particular to parents who are worried about the effect on their children’s development.

The report found that social networking sites are not a special source of risk to children and are generally beneficial as they support existing friendships.

Playing action video games, the Trust found, can improve some visual processing and motor response skills, while computer-based activity provides mental stimulation and can help slow rates of cognitive decline.

Trust director Annika Small said: “I want to see a proper debate amongst policy makers, based on accurate research, about the effects of using interactive technologies on young people’s brains, behaviours and attitudes, without resorting to scaremongering that parents are being subjected to on a regular basis.

“Our aim is to provide people with a clear and independent information resource that will help them navigate the minefield of misleading information on internet use.

“And our grassroots projects open up the positive benefits the internet can have for everyone who uses it,” Small said.

The poll was carried out with 1,000 parents online on June 24.