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Posted on September 18, 2024 in Opinions case for ipad
You are sitting at a restaurant trying to enjoy your meal when you hear a piercing scream. The toddler at the next table over has just decided to throw a tantrum, blowing their vocal cords out for the whole restaurant to hear. You sigh in exasperation. You did not expect screams to be the soundtrack to your meal. Then, just as suddenly as it started, the noise stops. Confused, you look over. The toddler is slack-jawed, white-knuckling an iPad with a chunky green case. YouTube blares while their eyes stare an inch from the screen. No more tantrum.
This is exactly what I saw at a sushi restaurant with my friends in Arlington last week, and I have seen it countless times in public spaces. Chances are, you have witnessed this phenomenon too. It is what Generation Z calls an “iPad kid,” a child who is so violently attached to their device that it is the only thing that will calm them down. Why are these children so tech-addicted?
Amil Niazi of Cut Magazine covered the issue from a parent’s perspective. Niazi writes, “Those screens are just as much for the sake of the other diners as they are for us.” It is an instant solution. Even so, I do not understand why anyone would give a young child their own addictive device, and I do not seem to be alone in this view. Seeing iPad kids became a common Gen Z experience, an agreement between Gen Z started circulating online: no more iPad kids.
“The Today Show” covered this trend of kids posting TikToks with captions like, “Gen Z isn’t allowed to raise iPad kids.” As the discussion about iPad kids spread on social media platforms, a promise started to form—Gen Z would not be raising their kids in front of screens. It feels unconscionable. Seeing a child so dependent on a device seems wrong and sad, and my gut reaction is to blame the parents. In truth, I have no clue what parenting is like. Plus, as the fed-up Cut article author put it, what does it matter to anyone else?
It is true I do not know what the personal situations of these families are. For all I know, the child I saw at the restaurant could have been watching that iPad for the first time. What I do have evidence for, however, is the long-lasting psychological damage screens have on young children. This is not a small issue. According to The Washington Post, “In the United States, almost half of children under age 2 have daily screen time, and about one-third spend more than an hour each day with devices.” It is so prevalent that the WHO and UNICEF have put out recommendations telling parents to avoid screen time for their children.
As someone who loves psychology, I find learning about how screens impact young children fascinating. Consistent screen time will cause this new generation to be developmentally different, and that is something we cannot ignore. They may face greater challenges in learning compared to their peers, due to preventable screen time habits. To learn about why these iPad kids are growing differently, I am focusing on three things: attention, language and emotional skills.
A developing brain needs more time to comprehend what it is seeing, and “watching lots of short videos could affect children’s attention span,” according to a professor of pediatrics as reported by CNN. Much of the rapid-fire content they are viewing is not meant for children. Even some of the content labeled “child-friendly” is insidiously not, as seen with the 2017 YouTube Kids scandal covered by this Forbes article. UNICEF also stresses that screen time “hijacks” young childrens’ attention spans and takes time away from slower, meaningful engagements like reading stories.
We all learned language as babies through observation and practice. Screens often rob young children of those milestones. As The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) found, “Children who use handheld screens…before they begin to talk may be at higher risk for speech delays.” According to the data collected by ASHA pediatrician Catherine Birken, some of these iPad kids learn languages measurably slower than others because they miss out on crucial human interaction. This lack of both language and social interaction may mean the child will be worse at communicating overall.
Young kids who have excessive screen time cannot self-regulate. They have to rely on a device to calm themselves down. An article from the National Library of Medicine compiling multiple studies found, “One study shows that increased TV exposure between six and 18 months of age was associated with emotional reactivity, aggression and externalizing behaviors.” When the child does not experience that immediate relief the screen gives them, they often lash out. The previous article from CNN affirmed this, saying, “If children don’t have enough time to play or are handed a tablet to pacify negative emotions, that could prevent the important developmental milestone that is the ability to navigate discomfort.” The iPad becomes their coping mechanism, making conflict with these young children much more difficult to navigate.
The UNICEF article went even further, asserting that screen time reduces empathy in babies. “Screen time inhibits young children’s ability to read faces and learn social skills, two key factors needed to develop empathy… The benefits of limiting and even eliminating screen time in these early moments will last a lifetime.” The bottom line: Excessive screen time stunts empathy, interactions and play. Parents have the right to do whatever they think is best for their children. Forbidding screens altogether is not reasonable. However, I think Gen Z is right about iPad kids. No toddler should have their own device. It changes them and turns them into a different kid than they would be without the screen. Not having an iPad is worth a tantrum in a restaurant every now and then.
Check out Emily Oster’s opinion about screen time and kids. Here’s one excerpt from one of her books.
Screen time for kids is a complex issue, and the research doesn’t provide a clear-cut answer. While some studies suggest potential negative effects like obesity and poor sleep, the evidence is not always compelling. On the other hand, screens can offer educational benefits, like raising reading scores and promoting school readiness. The key is finding a balance and considering the opportunity cost of screen time. It’s important to be mindful of how screens are used and ensure they don’t replace other important activities. Ultimately, each family needs to make their own decisions based on their values and priorities.
The opportunity cost part is what resonates with me. Developmentally, toddlers aren’t meant to be able to sit at a table for an hour at a restaurant so it is what it is. If the kid is getting 100% focused attention they might make it, but then the parent isn’t enjoying their experience at the restaurant. Everything is about balance.
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