The specialist in neurodevelopmental issues argues the case for banning social media for under-16s: ‘Those who had a smartphone with free access to internet content before the age of 15 have worse mental health indicators’
Every time I go out to eat I see kids of all ages with their faces glued to a screen of some kind while mom and dad eat. Is that a last resort? It looks to me like laziness and a lack of engagement.
My wife and I went out recently and a nearby table had no less than three children each with their own tablets all on full volume while the 5 or so adults completely ignored this.
Unless the same family eats out at that restaurant every day of the week, who are we to judge when we see this? Maybe they went out once in a blue moon and kids went insane but parents wanted to finish their meal. Maybe the kids had a long overstimulating day already and can’t handle a restaurant anymore but are also too hungry to go home at that point. Maybe the parents are scared of everyone around them judging if their kids don’t behave like 1920s kids who are too scared to even breathe in front of their parents. There can be multiple reasons for screens at restaurants and food courts and it’s not up to me or you to judge. Restaurants and going out are usually a special occasion and while I don’t condone putting your child in front of a screen when you are eating out, I don’t want to prematurely extrapolate to screen use at home.
I also want to add, when you say you see kids glued to screens every time you go out, are you sure you don’t see any who aren’t? Because I have this with dogs, I despise dogs and I spot a dog when there is one. While a place could be full of cats or rats or squirrels and I wouldn’t even notice.
I don’t know, I’ve always thought the point was to teach children how to act and socialize in public. It’s bad enough seeing adults on their phones when hanging out in public with friends instead of just speaking with one another.
There can be multiple reasons for screens at restaurants
I’ve never heard a good one except from parents who have children with some kind of severe handicap. I know exactly what it’s like to go to a restaurant with children of all ages and for almost everyone screens are not required, acting like a parent is. You can tell the difference.
when you say you see kids glued to screens every time you go out, are you sure you don’t see any who aren’t?
Every time I go out to eat I see kids of all ages with their faces glued to a screen of some kind while mom and dad eat. Is that a last resort? It looks to me like laziness and a lack of engagement.
My wife and I went out recently and a nearby table had no less than three children each with their own tablets all on full volume while the 5 or so adults completely ignored this.
Three screens is bad enough but at least give them headphones. That is ridiculous.
Unless the same family eats out at that restaurant every day of the week, who are we to judge when we see this? Maybe they went out once in a blue moon and kids went insane but parents wanted to finish their meal. Maybe the kids had a long overstimulating day already and can’t handle a restaurant anymore but are also too hungry to go home at that point. Maybe the parents are scared of everyone around them judging if their kids don’t behave like 1920s kids who are too scared to even breathe in front of their parents. There can be multiple reasons for screens at restaurants and food courts and it’s not up to me or you to judge. Restaurants and going out are usually a special occasion and while I don’t condone putting your child in front of a screen when you are eating out, I don’t want to prematurely extrapolate to screen use at home.
I also want to add, when you say you see kids glued to screens every time you go out, are you sure you don’t see any who aren’t? Because I have this with dogs, I despise dogs and I spot a dog when there is one. While a place could be full of cats or rats or squirrels and I wouldn’t even notice.
I don’t know, I’ve always thought the point was to teach children how to act and socialize in public. It’s bad enough seeing adults on their phones when hanging out in public with friends instead of just speaking with one another.
I’ve never heard a good one except from parents who have children with some kind of severe handicap. I know exactly what it’s like to go to a restaurant with children of all ages and for almost everyone screens are not required, acting like a parent is. You can tell the difference.
Yes I’m sure.