A new study has found that more than one-third of parents fear that their children could be damaged from using the Internet.
Additionally, one in three believed that the web can "rewire" young brains and 80 percent worry that sites such as Facebook and Twitter are addictive, reports the Daily Express.
The study was commissioned by the Nominet Trust, which promotes Internet projects that address social disadvantage.
It warned of "scaremongering and misinformation" about the web saying: "fears about internet use can potentially deny benefits to those most in need".
However, neuroscience and education expert Dr Paul Howard Jones insisted the Internet was a valuable learning resource and all forms of learning caused changes within the brain.
He further stated that social networking sites were beneficial and helped forge friendships, while computer games aided visual and motor response skills.