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In Chongqing, the average age of children using the Internet has been getting lower, and parents who force their children offline are increasing the risk of online addiction, a survey has shown.

The average age of children in Chongqing municipality who start accessing the Internet is 9.7 years, compared with 12 in 2004, a survey released on Tuesday by the Chongqing Education Science Research Institute showed.

"Although they are very young, these children are making use of the Internet more reasonably than what others would like to believe. There is no reason for parents to panic," said Wang Weihong, the head of the institute.

"Instead, they should adopt a positive attitude to guide their children in using the Internet."

The survey polled 3,200 students aged 11 to 19 in 33 primary schools and middle schools in nine counties in Chongqing. While the average age of first-time netizens was 9.7, most 6-year-old children living in developed areas were able to use social networks, play online games and watch cartoons on the Net, the poll showed.

Ninety-five percent of those polled also said they were fond of surfing the Net. Among them, 71 percent watched movies, 59 percent chatted, 52 percent played games, 50 percent studied, 35 percent blogged, 14 percent used e-mail and 5 percent shopped.

It also found a correlation between child Internet addicts and the efforts of parents to prevent them from getting addicted: Students who were not allowed to surf the Net were three times more likely to become addicted than others.

Questions:

1. What’s the average age of children in Chongqing who start accessing the Internet?

2. Why should parents not prevent their children from surfing the Internet?

3. Do even 6-year-old children know how to use the Internet?

Answers:

1. 9.7 years.

2. The survey found that students who were not allowed to surf the Net were three times more likely to become addicted than others.

3. Yes, the poll shows that most 6-year-old children living in developed areas are able to use social networks, play online games and watch cartoons on the Internet.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.