The night-walkers of Uganda

part of most young people’s lives,” says the 
study. 85% of five to 16-year-olds use the 
Internet, and over a third (including a quarter of 
five to six-year-olds) own a computer or laptop. 
On average, they go online just over four times a 
week and spend two hours online each time.
The survey shows that children are using the 
Internet more and more, especially younger 
children. This is mainly because of social 
networking sites like Bebo. The main reason 
children use the Internet is communication 
(social networking), then fun (online games) and 
finally studying. Almost three quarters (72%) of 
children have visited a social networking site, 
and over half have their own profile. Sometimes 
Life through a lens
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Elementary
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they lie about their age if there are minimum age 
requirements to join a social networking site. 
Children as young as eight are now joining sites 
like these.
Kathy Evans, policy director of the Children’s 
Society, which is studying modern childhood, 
said that people are worried about the possible 
results of children’s TV and Internet viewing 
habits. The Children’s Society will publish a 
report next month on children and technology.
© Guardian News & Media 2008
First published in The Guardian, 16/01/08
Life through a lens
Level 1
Elementary
Comprehension Check
3
Match the beginnings and the endings to make sentences about the text.
1. The survey shows that…
2. The amount of television watching is increasing again…
3. The main reason children use the Internet...
4. Two thirds of children…
5. Over a third of children…
6. 83% of children…
a. … because more girls are watching soaps.
b. … turn on the television when they get home from school.
c. … own a laptop.
d. … children are spending more and more time watching TV and using the Internet.
e. … watch TV before they go to school. 
f. … is social networking.