Parents should not be put off by the thought that their children may become "hurt" by technology, as the likes of the internet are providing them with an extraordinary resource, it has been said.

Will Gardner, the deputy chief executive officer of internet safety group Childnet International, said the online world gave young people a great opportunity to discover new things and read from the largest library possible.

He continued: "Even more than five years ago, you needed to know web language to create your own content online but now it has become so accessible [that] children are creating their own ideas; it is giving them voice."

Mr Gardner added that people must not be blinded by any instances of bad internet experiences for children as the technology was important both now and in the future, although everyone should be aware of potential risks.

Digital Youth discovered that young people predominantly used online media for social networking, exploring niche interests or publicising their abilities to online audiences.

According to a recent survey by Connect, the two biggest IT headaches for businesses were 'everyday hassles with IT' (37 per cent) and 'security concerns' (32 per cent).