How Do Online Networks Promote Child Socialisation?

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Socialisation can be defined as the lifelong process in which one learns and recognises patterns of behaviour expected by society. The influences on socialisation are, who and what shape us into who we are, how we learn to fit and adapt to social norms in different situations. These influences include: relatives, blood relations including parents, grandparents and extended family who usually share values, culture and are relied on as first support for individuals. Peers are generally the same age and have similar interests. They assist in acceptances, independence away from family and teach individuals how to respond to other people. Paid Carers are employed to care for young people. They set rules, establish boundaries and provide opportunities …show more content…

A study conducted on 4000 pre-schoolers, through to their teens, revealed that 12 year olds spend an average of 30% of their day, which is 3-4 hours, on screens (Healey, 2017). The time spent on social media and online networks influences the socialisation of young people. Children learn how to communicate and what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour via online networks. Australian children are found to have 5% more online contacts than that of European children, this amounts to about 300 contacts online (Swist, Third & Collin 2015). The findings of this report as suggest that online networks promote positive norms about health and wellbeing and also introduces individuals to different cultural norms in a low risk environment (Healey, 2017). This online socialisation impacts their interaction with peers and relatives by extending the span of relationships between peers and relatives. For example online networks can keep friends and relations in contact when overseas and no longer in direct contact with each other. The impact of online networks on the socialisation of children is that it can influence relationships of peers and relatives in a positive way and introduce information and norms outside what a child would typically

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