Press & PR

A new study has suggested that many children in the UK are effectively being raised online.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) has commented on findings to published in full next month which suggest children are spending as much 20 hours per week online using social networking and video hosting sites.

Commenting on the findings, the ippr has called on governmental departments and internet service providers to ensure that children remain safe when browsing the web.

Kay Withers, ippr research fellow and report author, said: "The internet offers great benefits and opportunities for young people. But with kids spending an ever increasing amount of time online parents need to be reassured about what they are looking at."

A number of UK suppliers currently offer child protection tools as part of the service, with Tiscali including new software that identifies potentially dangerous online relationships in its broadband packages earlier this month.

Vonage is allowing broadband users to make cheap calls using its broadband phone services, which start from £5.99 per month.