Poll: Online users getting younger

Chongqing - The average age of children using the Internet has been getting lower, and parents who force their children offline are increasing the risk of online addiction, a survey has shown.

The average age of children in Chongqing municipality who start accessing the Internet is 9.7 years, compared with 12 in 2004, a survey released on Tuesday by the Chongqing Education Science Research Institute showed.

"Although they are very young, these children are making use of the Net more reasonably than what others would like to believe. There is no reason for parents to panic," said Wang Weihong, the head of the institute.