TV or the Internet // theparentlink

When asked if they'd rather give up TV or the Internet for a week, 77% of teens said they'd forgo the tube. [mediapost.com, 4/21/09]

Among children and teens who play video games, nearly one in 10 shows multiple signs of being addicted, according to Iowa State University researcher Doug Gentile. His new study reveals that about 8.5% of game-playing youth demonstrated at least six of 11 "addiction" symptoms, ranging from skipping chores to play, to lying about how much they play, to stealing money to buy a game. Nancy Shute, a parenting blogger for U.S. News & World Report, believes the study confirms what most folks already recognize. "The bottom line: You already know if gaming is causing problems for your child and your family," she writes. "And if it is, you know the solution, too."