Technology Addiction

Out of context: Reply #12

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  • monospaced8

    My son is now past 18 months, and I'm proud to say that to date he has had almost no contact with a mobile device or computer. To him, mobile phones are not games or entertainment or anything beyond a lock screen or maybe the calculator. TV is given sparingly, and we don't open our laptops in front of him. It might be all for not, but we like that he's getting a more analog upbringing for now. He'll have the rest of his life to be bombarded by technology.

    There are a few reasons we're doing this. One is that we simply want to avoid technology addiction in general. Another is perception: when you see a baby or toddler with their face in a tablet, ignoring the world around them all day, it just looks sad. I don't want to be that parent.

    Another, and more critical, is that there are studies now coming out showing that the newer generations have very serious issues related to technology exposure at young ages, and there's a huge push among progressive families to eliminate screens altogether. The Silicon Valley elite — responsible for the creation of this beast — are raising their kids without it. Sends a clear signal to us.

    But mostly, I don't see any fucking point in giving this little person today's technology. In a few years it'll all be different anyway, so whatever they use now is pointless, in my opinion. For now I'm content with our analog play and life experiences, with the occasional movie or show, and we'll let technology take its hold at a later time.

    • The byproduct of all this is that technology is relegated to work and logistics (travel, comms, etc), and life is more enjoyable. Highly recommend it.monospaced
    • That a very good moveBennn
    • Good stuff mono, and that's the perfect age of your child to start making those moves.mg33
    • My 16 month old son grabs my phone and brings it to me even tho I never ask him. We're following the same regiment. No Tv either. Once I showed him a roostersBeeswax
    • video on youtube. He got hypnotized, completely lost himself in there so I took him away from the screen. I cant imagine long term exposure.Beeswax
    • Great stuff. I’ve noticed my students now can’t concentrate for more than 5 minutesChimp
    • I feel like we totally screwed our kid.. he was born 3 months after the iPad was released in 2010.. he never had a chanceautoflavour
    • I do the same with my daughter. I had heard a semi-recent study said there was no harm in kids using screens. What studies have you seen?Gucci
    • It's now a point of pride for her that when she's at daddy's house she uses her imagination.Gucci
    • way to set your kid back! one not born and bred to tech is like keeping your kid out of school until 10. sure better rounded but a minority sociallydeathboy
    • Mono, when will you be moving to a horse and cart as you family transport . And, are you having trouble finding a space beside the river to keep your mangle andMorning_star
    • ...washboard. Also, all this new fangled medicine is dangerous. A good bread poultice will cure most ailments.Morning_star
    • fuck off deathboy, and go play with the rest of the forever-alones where you belongmonospaced
    • When you learn to write above the 3rd grade level, then you can talk about how to raise a smart kid. Fucking idiot.monospaced
    • oh mono your kid will be so willy willy proud of his daddy for being internet aggressive. wonder if you will teach him that device freedeathboy
    • 2nd grade level.monospaced
    • see this why you need him to have devices so you can show him the witty progression of edge less insults. if not to learn from but hopefully to surpassdeathboy
    • maybe you guys in the future can team up too. a father and "non-gender species" thing. bonding and all that. dont hide your habitdeathboy
    • kindly fuck off and never speak to me about my family again, you talentless weirdomonospaced
    • Doing the same with ours that is 2-1/2 now. We do have TV on more than we should but dont let her any device/screen time like so many around us with similarDarkCover
    • age and think it shows. She absolutely loves books and always going to books over toys. On top of that, taking and thought process well beyond her peersDarkCover
    • Same, Dark. We do use TV but never more than an 45 min at a time. It’s necessary! My son LOVES books too, and I know this is related. :)monospaced
    • Good job!monospaced

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