Internet users in South China's Guangdong Province are getting younger, a survey has found, raising concerns of a possible surge in the number of young web addicts.

The survey, jointly conducted by the Guangdong provincial research center of teenagers and the province's working committee of juveniles, found 80 percent of the 1,000 primary and high school students polled started surfing the Internet before they turned 10.

A little more than 11 percent started surfing before they reached age 11 and only 8.6 percent said they were introduced to the Internet when they were older than 11.

Moreover, compared with the data collected in 2007, teenagers in the province have spent longer durations online.

With the popularization of computers and network technologies, Guangdong is now witnessing a new wave of Internet users, according to the survey.

Children who surf the Internet to play online games represent 22.38 percent of the total, followed by those who consult data, chat and make cyber friends, see films, watch costume plays and news programs, and do homework.

"I would be outdated if I don't surf the net," said Li Zhangqi, 11, a student of the city's Xianliedonglu Primary School.

Li, a grade six student, said most of his classmates learned how to go online when they were in grade three or four.

"We usually chat on the Internet and exchange views on many topics during weekends and holidays," he said.

Many parents, teachers and experts have expressed concerns over the rapid increase in the number of young Internet users.

Ye Liling, the mother of an 11-year-old girl, is worried that her daughter would become an Internet addict and her studies would be affected as she spends more time online.

"I hope schools can play a bigger role in educating children about the correct use of the Internet and distinguish good websites from the bad ones," Ye said.

Yu Huihui, a psychologist from the Guangzhou committee of the Communist Youth League, said most children get addicted to the Internet when they are under too much academic pressure or feel unwanted by their families.

"Internet addiction can certainly hinder the healthy growth of children," Yu said, adding children between the ages of 14 and 16 are most likely to become Internet addicts.

Tan Juntie, secretary of the Guangdong provincial committee of the Communist Youth League, said illegal cyber cafes and bad websites have a negative impact on the children.

Teachers and parents should join hands to teach the kids the correct use of the Internet and ensure they stay away from illegal cyber cafes and inappropriate websites, Tan said.

By the end of 2009, the number of young Internet addicts had grown to more than 460,000 in Guangdong province, according to another survey conducted by the Guangdong provincial committee of the Communist Youth League early this year.

Many students suffered from eye diseases, cervical spondylosis, poor sleep patterns, weakening immunity and lethargy after spending a lot of time online, the survey said.

More than 64 percent of young Internet addicts have even begun to hate school, it said.

(China Daily July 8, 2010)