Countless times my peers and I have agreed: we grew up in the best time. Digital culture was starting to emerge and take shape, but had not swept up the world yet.
Browsing the web and chatting on one’s corded landline were mutually exclusive. Cell phones were still for adults. Portable music was limited to Walkman’s and the radio. Tuning out your surroundings still required some effort.
The world is complex– savage, yet beautiful. But at what age should all that be reduced to free apps and five-star customer support?
Just after graduation I was employed by a new restaurant near me – Bareburger. Perhaps you’ve heard of our amazing burgers, salads, shakes and onion rings? After countless tables and customers I’ve seen, I learned a lot. One key takeaway for the someday-parent in me: Screens are bad, mmkay?
Let me paint you a picture.
Parents and two kids come for dinner. Before water even gets to the table, the iPads are out. I run over the menu, answer questions and chit-chat if there’s time before dashing away. Kid’s entrées come with a choice of side and drink.
Mom tries to ask: "Timmy do you want regular fries, sweet potato fries or a salad?”
You would have thought we were in a 9 a.m. calculus class. Heads slowly emerge, sometimes not at all. I’ve had to physically reach down and push the lock button to break the spell. Finally the order is complete, and away I go.
Feel free to disagree, but this happens a little too often.
Don’t get me wrong– Gameboy was a huge part of my childhood and Gym Leader battles were always more important than the waiter.
But the Gameboy couldn’t take over a child’s life quite the same way a smartphone can. There were more barriers and the stand-outs were that new games were $30 and you had to get a ride to the store. Not too great.
Wi-Fi and the App Store’s “free” category conveniently solved both of those problems.
As a life-long gamer and former game design major, I feel so many popular new titles are glorified time-killers. Imagine a young brain formulating around apps with rewarding behavior and addictive patterns built right into the code.
Like Rambo, with a dopamine cannon assaulting our brain with little rewards for repetitive thinking. I mean, take the loved favorite, Candy Crush– it has the potential to do actual damage to your brain.
Brain development is constant and doesn't end until your mid-20s. Do you want your child's intellectual brain development to diminish?
We haven’t even gotten to the black hole of instant messaging. You know, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, GroupMe– the list is endless. Heck, even one of my college professors is responsible for the super secure communication app Wickr.
At what age should we be given access to anytime, anywhere communication with virtually... Anyone?
Put it this way: Life is short and childhood is even more precious.
It should be spent developing interests and hobbies, interpersonal skills or just getting into good 'ole fashioned mischief. Your only job is to literally learn how to be a real person. I’m concerned because sometimes the faces peering back at me don’t seem connected to real people.
To all the parents still with me, most personal gadgets have supervision features.
Use them.
