Too much internet can click

London: The commonly held belief that the internet is turning an entire generation into solitary web-junkies is a myth, according to new research.

The findings may offer succour to parents worried that social networking sites such as Facebook are reducing their children's participation in school sports and cultural activities.

In a paper to be presented to a gathering of Nobel prize winners later this month, three influential economists found that once adults had access to broadband, their attendance at theatres, cinemas, bars or restaurants actually increased.

They also found evidence that far from curtailing children's extracurricular experiences, a broadband internet subscription at home increased the number of children's out-of-school social activities, such as sports, ballet, music, painting lessons, or joining a youth club.

"With the help of the internet it is much easier to maintain contact with other people and to make plans to meet in the real world," the study shows.