A paper, which is supposed to be published in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, has come out with the findings that the teenagers who spend long hours watching TV or using internet, are less attached to their parents and others around them. The paper, which aimed at studying the relationship between adolescent screen time and social involvement with parents and peers, does not specifically pin-point Internet and TV as the causes of the detachment; however it does make clear that the two are inter-related.

Behaviors of 3,043 New Zealand students were surveyed in 2004 by the paper dubbed, "Adolescent Screen Time and Attachment to Parents and Peers." The findings showed a 4 or 5 percent increase in detachment to parents for every hour spent watching TV or surfing the Web, respectively.

The detachment was not related to only parents but also peers, as the teenager who spent more time on TV and internet were also found to be less attached to their friends. On the contrary, more the teenagers spent time on reading offline and doing homework, more were they found to be closer to their parents.

It is however astonishing to note that these percentages are actually going down, when compared to a similar study from the 1980s. A study conducted in 1988 forwarded that there was a hike by 13 pct in detachment to parents for every hour of screen time, as well as a 24 percent increase in detachment to peers.

It is noted by the researchers in the paper though that the numbers from 2004 include numerous Internet-related offerings that have helped offset the numbers. To trace an example, an earlier study conducted displayed a healthy association between educational Internet use and family relationships. The paper specified that when it comes to selected content and its effect on social behaviors, especially given the rapid development of screen-based technologies; further research becomes mandatory.