Girls tend to look for information they can use in schoolwork, aimlessly surf the Net, or send electronic postcards. The online activity of Belgium's young people appears to be coming at the expense of traditional reading, InSites found. Thirty-four percent of parents bought something online for their teenage children. More than half of the 18-24 age group have already made an online purchase. CDs, books, and software are the most popular online purchases.
Belgian parents say they keep track of what sites their children are visiting when on the Internet.
This is done mainly by going online together with their children rather than by the use of some type of software control. Only 10 percent of the parents of 6-18 year olds use software controls. The InSites survey was conducted among 1,000 young people who were canvassed by phone, with a further sample of 1,100 question over the Internet. Copyright 2001 INT Media Group, Incorporated All Rights Reserved.