Young becoming hostages to handheld devices, says charity
BBC News | Hannah Richardson | education reporter | 23 June 2015
Future generations of young people risk becoming “hostages to handheld devices” and disengaged from physical activity, a sports charity says.
The Youth Sports Trust report suggests that nearly a quarter of children see playing computer games with friends as a form of physical activity.
The trust called for technology to be integrated with PE in schools.
The government said it had given schools £300m to improve school sport, and PE was a priority.
‘March of technology’
This poll of 1,000 five- to 16-year olds suggested 75% of young people enjoy PE at school, and two-thirds feel better after taking part in sport.
But the survey revealed the scale of the challenge from digital technology.
Some 23% of children said they viewed playing a computer game with a friend as a form of exercise.
And a third said they spoke to their friends more on social media than in person.
The report – The class of 2035: promoting a brighter and more active future for the youth of tomorrow – said “there is no resisting” the march of technology.
