Children's early exposure to cyberspace raises concerns

Chinese children are surfing the web earlier in life, with almost 75 percent saying they first used the internet before the age of 10, up from 55.9 percent in 2010, a study has found.

The Annual Report on Internet Use and Reading Practice of Chinese Minors (2017-18), released on Monday, said 98.1 percent of students under the age of 18 have browsed the internet, much higher than the national internet user rate of 57.7 percent.

The study, carried out by several organizations led by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Media Research Center, shows children from urban areas start using the internet earlier than their rural peers.