Children would rather surf the Internet than watch television, a survey out today has found.
Although some watch more than 10 hours of TV a week (17 per cent), some young Internet users will spend up to 70 hours a week online.
The survey of 3,000 UK families, carried out by the Family Assurance Group, found that while 38 per cent of families watch TV together, very few use the Internet together.
Carried out in April this year, the survey involved 4,500 children, 1 per cent of whom spend between 50 and 70 hours per week on the Internet.
It also revealed that 38 per cent of families watch more than seven hours of TV a week together but 44 per cent of children watch more than seven hours a week alone.
Around 14 per cent of parents use banning use of the Internet as a form of punishment, compared with 28 per cent for grounding, 18 per cent for "no treats", 16 per cent TV banning, 10 per cent withholding pocket money and 5 per cent chores, the report found.
PA