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CNN Live At Daybreak

What Are the Pros and Cons of Youth Internet Use?

Aired July 10, 2001 - 08:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, earlier we told you about Americans and their Internet habits. There's a new study out. Now, we narrow our focus a little bit. We want to look at young people now. They sure like to be connected and they're using the worldwide Web and other wireless communications to stay in touch.

Joining us from New York to talk about the benefits and the shortfalls and concerns as well of all of this is J.C. Hertz, CEO of JoyStick Nation Incorporated. J.C.'s also a consultant who knows a lot about how kids are plugged in, the way they like to do it.

J.C., how much -- how much time is the average kid spending online these days?

J.C. HERTZ, AUTHOR, "JOYSTICK NATION INCORPORATED": Well, back in the day when the kid used to walk into their room, slam the door and turn on the stereo, now that's the Internet.

So you can just extrapolate from your past.

MCEDWARDS: But is it ...

HERTZ: That's about right.

MCEDWARDS: Is it -- is it a big part of their day?

HERTZ: Yes, I mean I think it's certainly a big part of the time that they spend when they would be doing their homework.

Certainly, people are running instant messaging sessions during all that time and e-mailing and you know, anytime that they're at a desk, they're on a computer and then when they go out, they're on their cell phones.

So, you know, there are many definitions of online and teenagers are engaged in all of them.

MCEDWARDS: Yes, plugged in, in many ways, but at the expense of what -- do you know?

HERTZ: Well, I think that there is an expense of television. I think that you see the network television numbers actually going down among youth. There's a big concern for those network executives, but I think people generally have screen time budgets, you know, the amount of time that I want to be in front of a screen, whether that's a television or a computer, and often both.

I mean a lot of times people look over at their television and then they're instant messaging each other about what's going on on it.

MCEDWARDS: And what about play time, though? I mean are younger kids spending more time online perhaps playing video games than they would be out, you know, throwing a ball around in a park.

HERTZ: I think kids are spending a lot of time playing console games like Nintendo, you know, console has definitely replaced public television in some ways as the kiddy screen time. But you know kids, there are also sports teams. I mean it depends where you look. I mean some kids are so over-scheduled with, you know, karate and martial arts, soccer, everything, that they're getting the sports, but a lot aren't and they're eating junk food, which is one of the reasons why our kids are so obese.

MCEDWARDS: A lot of people are concerned about it, too, though. I mean there's this perception out there that, as you say, kids are sitting there eating junk food, too plugged in, not getting enough -- not getting enough exercise.

Are we closer knowing whether or not that's true or is that just a stereotype that's out there?

HERTZ: Well, I think in general, you know, kids in America statistically are not eating right. No one disputes that. I think in terms of social, non-social, a lot of this stuff is social. It's a lot more social than isolating because people go to each other's houses and they're e-mailing each other. They're not just interacting with the machine.

So if anything, you know, they're almost getting too chatty and they can't function without four sessions going on.

MCEDWARDS: Yes. OK.

(CROSSTALK)

MCEDWARDS: So that's the chatting with friend's aspect of it, which nobody can deny is social. But what about the content issues? I mean what are kids looking at and what are the concerns about that?

HERTZ: Well, in general, once you get into junior high, the most fascinating thing is gossip about your friends and for the most part, what they're trading back and forth, other than tunes on Napster to the degree that they still can, is gossip.

You know, it's the power of hey, it's just acknowledgment.

MCEDWARDS: And if it -- but if a young person really wants to know something or learn something on the Net, I mean are they using it? Is it a good educational tool? Is it something they can go to and do go to, to help with their homework or a project?

HERTZ: I think it can be, but I don't think the educational establishment has really figured out how to deal with online resources or teach with them.

You know, kids are learning in networks all the time, but schools still aren't really in sync with it. So, in most places it isn't being used very well.

MCEDWARDS: All right, J.C. Hertz of "Joystick Nation," thanks very much for your thoughts this morning, appreciate it.

HERTZ: No problem.

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