The Pew Internet and American Life Project said Wednesday that about 59 percent of Americans with children ages 12-17 consider the Internet a positive influence on their kids. That is based on a 2006 survey, the latest available on the topic, and represents a drop from 67 percent in 2004.

Meanwhile, those who do not believe the Internet has had an effect one way or the other increased to 30 percent, from 25 percent.

"The Internet for a lot of parents is now a mature technology," said Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at Pew. "They are not in a honeymoon period with the Internet anymore. They are realizing the Internet is something with good and bad things." ...