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A TikTok trend -

TikTok has seen a trend of people coming online to complain about "iPad kids." This term generally refers to Gen Alpha (born 2010-2024) children, who are glued to their iPads.

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Exposure to tech -

Thanks to advances in tech, over the past few years it's become common for children to be more exposed to screen time at a younger and younger age.

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Comfort -

For many kids, their screens and their games/educational material have been a source of comfort when they're upset, or a means of distraction.

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Coping with boredom -

However, coping with boredom is something previous generations had to master. What happens if you're distracted by a screen when you're experiencing a normal emotion?

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Too much, too young? -

The truth is we actually don't know the effects of exposure to so much screen time, so young, for a prolonged period of time.

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Schools -

Many of the complaints leveled at iPad kids on TikTok claim they have behavioral, attention span, and competence issues in school.

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Schools -

The impact of more technology has been visible in public and private spaces, and it's also had ramifications for school systems.

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Disinterest -

It's asserted this is partly because, when children are experiencing disinterest outside of school, an iPad with a game is used to reengage them.

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Disinterest -

Subdued by flashing colors and fun songs, they don't have to self-soothe or develop strategies to deal with the feelings of lack of interest.

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Bored with reality -

This constant exposure to excitement and stimulation with interactive apps can leave children feeling completely bored by the real world.

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Socialization -

When screen time, whether on a tablet or phone, becomes the norm, kids can find it difficult to socialize with other children in real life.

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Socialization -

This difficulty with socialization is being seen at younger ages. Preschool and elementary school age children are having more trouble building a rapport with each other than previous generations.

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Dopamine -

Dopamine is the 'reward' chemical in the brain. If it's constantly overexcited by games and sounds, it's possible kids are finding social interactions in real life difficult because they just don't excite the brain in the same way.

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Technology in teaching -

Schools have begun to incorporate technology into their teaching and learning programs for kids as young as preschool age.

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Digital media revolution -

In 2012, it was reported that many digital media companies, who had been seeing their profits slip, were beginning to move into the educational space.

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Tech in schools -

Over a decade later, the role of technology in schools has substantially increased. It's not unusual for preschoolers to obtain educational media through their devices.

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UNICEF stats -

Today, UNICEF statistics estimate that up to one in every four preschool-age children has a digital device.

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Lockdown technology -

The link between technology and education deepened out of necessity during the pandemic and its ensuing lockdowns.

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Virtual education -

During these years, virtual education became normalized, as apps like Zoom became a popular way to facilitate learning between teachers and students.

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Struggling to keep up -

But assigned online work through their devices without face-to-face time with their teachers, many students struggled to keep up.

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Struggling to keep up -

When students are assigned work online, they lack timely access to their teacher and other students. This makes it difficult to ask questions and deal with things they don't understand in a timely way.

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Research -

Post-pandemic, "blended" learning—using both classroom time and technology devices/online learning—has become the norm.

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Unsuitable content -

However, this poses its own unique set of challenges. Recent research suggested that a quarter of secondary school children had watched harmful or violent content while in the classroom.

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Unsuitable content -

In the same study, it was found more than one in 10 children (13%) had viewed X-rated content, while 10% had used gambling sites—again, in the classroom.

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Banning phones -

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many schools are banning phones to help prevent cyber bullying, and to try to stop a whole generation being exposed to unsuitable content.

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Safeguards -

But is an outright ban on phones an appropriate response? It could drive kids to use them in secret. Some researchers propose encouraging the use of safeguards and promoting responsible digital usage.

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A careful balance -

While screens are often a distraction, devices are also a great way to provide additional learning tools to children. More learning opportunities are available than were ever an option for previous generations.

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Device boundaries -

However, it's difficult to separate between different types of screen time. Children are watching streaming services on the same devices they use to learn. When it comes to a child's digital diet, how they consume is as important as what they consume.

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Maximize off-screen time -

For parents, one of the best ways to ensure your child has a balanced experience is to maximize the time spent with your children in real life.

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Maximize off-screen time -

Time spent in-person with friends, doing activities where no screen is involved, is important for children's happiness and their healthy development.

Sources: (Vice) (The Spectator) (The Index) (The Oxford Blue)

See also: Parenting styles and how they affect children

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