This piece of work was aimed at studying the internet and children with particular reference to Asata, Enugu Urban children within the age range of 12-18. it has been noticed that most children no longer pay attention to internet after school and more especially during weekend and holidays. Questionnaire was prepared and administered to the above aged school children. The interview with these set of students yielded extra information. Primary and secondary data were collected to solve the research problem. Data collected were organized in tables by putting them into percentages and frequency. It was finally found out that the children’s rate of browsing on internet is very high to the extent that internet is now the children’s best friend. However, the problem being experienced is that, the internet has done more harm than good to children.

PROPOSAL

The proposal the searcher intends to use in this study was simple research proposal which includes: The research topic; objective of the study, hypotheses, source of data; plans for the review of relevant literature; method data collection and the research instrument to be use for the study. The research topic was internet and Asata, Enugu Urban children within the age range of 12-18 years. The reseracher’s objective of the study was to know the children’s attitude towards the introduction of internet, their rate of internet access and browsing which ma be harmful and how such attitude could be shaped or modeled. The researcher’ hypotheses intends to prove or disprove the problem under study. The searcher intends sourcing her data through primary and secondary sources. The researcher plans to review the relevant literature under some headings which will enable her (the searcher) to get the insight of the problem under study. The researcher intends to use survey method of data collection in this study which was the primary source of data. The researcher also intends using secondary sources as they will form the starting point for the study. The instrument the researcher intends to use for the study was questionnaire since the researcher’s method of data collection was survey and mostly the primary source of data.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Approval page ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

Proposal vi

Table of contents vii

List of table ix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the study 2

1.2 Statement of the research problem 3

1.3 Objective of the study 4

1.4 Significance of the study 4

1.5 Research question 5

1.6 Research hypotheses (alternative and null hypotheses) 5

1.7 Theoretical frame work 6

1.8 Conceptual and operational definition of terms 7

1.9 Limitation of the study 9

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.1 Source of literature 10

2.2 Review of relevant literature 10

2.3 Summary of literature review 18

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Research methodology and design 19

3.2 Area of study 20

3.3 Research population 20

3.4 Research sample 20

3.5 Sampling techniques 22

3.6 Instrument for data collection 23

3.7 Method of data analysis 24

3.8 Expected result 24

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 25

4.1 Data presentation 25

4.2 Analysis of data 25

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 31

5.1 Summary of findings 31

5.2 Conclusion 32

5.3 Recommendation for further study 34

References 36

Questionnaire 38

Research questionnaire 39

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.2.1: Distribution of respondents by sex 26

Table 4.2.2: Distribution of respondents by age 26

TABLE 4.2.3: Distribution of respondents as to whether the more children go on internet is attributed to the type of progrmme browsing. 27

Table 4.2.4: Distributed of respondents as to whether most behaviour by children is attributed to the type of internet browsing programme. 27

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The topic intent and Asata, Enugu Urban Children are a study that deserves an indebt exhaustive treatment. We live in information age, where knowledge is power. Internet has come to stay and it is happening. Life styles are changing. Newspapers are available on the web. Cinema tickets can be booked on internet by logging on the relevant sites. Entertainment concept are changing. One can watch movies listen to songs just by connecting to these sites sitting at home. There are sites on every subject in the world. Therefore, it is necessary in view of the deviant and violent behaviour often exhibited by most children in the society.

According to Joy A. Ugwuanyi (2010), the increase in the number of cyber café centers, the home and foreign video and the fact that both parents now go out to work, leaving the children on their own, they could walk into any café for browsing including those who have internet in their various houses.

Moreover, most Nigeria children spend a lot of time browsing on internet. Such children catch a glimpse of deviant and violent behaviour that did not conform to the norms of the society.

1.10 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In order to be able to appreciate the internet and children, it is important to know the power of that “information source called internet (Web). This is because browsing cannot be performed without the use of computer network. Computer is the most spontaneous, electronic message carries of our time. This bring the scene of what is happening in the world as it is happening.

Internet has significantly altered our life style in several ways. It is providing opportunities to wander about the world and to escape out of the real world while sitting in the chair. By the constant repetition of certain themes and through powerful visuals of high technical quality it is even conditioning most of the children into thinking and behaving in particular way. In the filed or education-Concepts are changing from computer based training to web based training. Like e-gurukool, e-learning, on-line examinations etc. then there is virtual classroom concept where the lecture is webcasted. Any doubt that arise can be clarified through the virtual classroom concept. Channels are available on internet of everything and anything. Internet has channels on persona, libraries, travel, art, computing, lifestyle, shopping, music, people, money, games, sport, etc. it is amazing to know the amount of information that is available on the interntet, through which one can access the information in the best and most inexpensive ways.

Anything in this world can be accessed through the internet these days. Similarly, E-mail has revolutionized the communication. Voice mail is where they record voice and the same is sent to the destination. Net-to- phone is where one can talk to anyone in the world at the cost of a local call.

1.11 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

There is no problem about the positive role of the internet on children. Similarly, there is also exists not merely a consensus but a growing concern about its harmful effects however, positive effects do not stick so easily and negative effects do not leave us so readily. Therefore, it is useful and appropriate to focus on the harmful role of the internet in distorting the life of children and in influencing particularly the school and college going children at their highly impressionable age.

Internet role in promoting vulgarity and in undermining children’s life style is particularly distressing. The above of this very powerful media leads us to question the absoluteness of certain liberal concepts like freedom and choice when it comes to viewing what one wants.

1.12 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The chief purpose of this study is to come up with an in-depth examination of children’s attitude towards introduction of the internet which may be harmful in nature.

Furthermore, it will seek to highlight some attitudes by children arising from internet browsing. On completion, it is hope to establish how various internet browsing influences children’s behavioural patten and life style.

Above all, it is hope to examine how best the internet browsing that causes harmful behaviours on children could be shaped or modeled to meet the accepted social norms and how

Finally, it will measure in molding the lives of youths in the society.

1.13 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study “The internet and Enugu Urban Children” is designed to explore the dangers of internet browsing such as yahoo, dating on net etc. by children and evolving solutions to check the annoying behaviour of children engendered internet exposure. It will be beneficial not only to the government who have express concern over wild character traits from children in recent times. It may be meaningful to all of them in that information contained in the study will enhance their rate.

1.14 RESEARCH QUESTION

Research question that will be posed to children (respondents) between the ages of 12-18 years includes some of the following.

1. Do parents regulate children’s rate of browsing?

2. Does exposure to net bring about changes in children behaviour?

3. Does such exposure cause positive or negative change?