Do parents realize they are rotting their own and their children’s minds with screens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree 100%. But of course you’ve offended the hoards of parents that are too lazy to parent their kids. Teachers see it too. I mentioned to my kids seconds grade teacher during the course of the parent teacher conference in the fall that my kid doesn’t have a tablet and isn’t allowed video games and the teacher said “well there you go, that’s why he’s so well behaved and doing so well.”

You realize the teacher was giving you the verbal equivalent of a pat on the head like the needy little lapdog you are, don’t you?

[Anonymous]

Kids use apps like AI Homework Helper or other versions of the same to take a screen shot of an assignment and then copy the work onto their homework. They dictate what they want in an essay to Chat GPT or whatever other AI app they use and tell it to write it in 8th-grade English. This is the world they live in. At least they are learning to write good prompts. The only way I can ensure my older kids do their work without AI assistance is to set next to them, which is long-term unsustainable. Screens aren't going anyway. I hope the education system is adapting better than I am as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this rotting of the minds apply to forums like this one?

No, of course not. OP and her buddies are allowed to bash parents online, that doesn't count

DP. OP specifically said that adults are also rotting their brains (which is definitely true of myself and most of the adults I know). Y'all couldn't be bothered to read the entire OP.

SMH

Naw, OP insinuated she is only on her phone for 30 minutes at night and that her screen use is okay. GMAFB.

Read the thread title.

I realize I am rotting my brain. I have taken some steps to reduce screen use, and I am trying to get DH on board but he's like you. He can't be bothered because it's hard.

And yet here you are, sh$t posting on DCUM. Probably because you are too focused on other people's screen time instead of your own. No wonder your DH hides in his phone. His home life probably stinks.

+1

[Anonymous]

This thread is a new low for this miserable site.

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's an idea - stop dragging the other kids to their boring sibling's basketball games. That's not fair to them. Or, long drives. I'm ok with kids using devices in moderation. Parent your own kids - well, clearly you are only to your favorite child.

So what do they with the kids? I always enjoyed going to family members events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this rotting of the minds apply to forums like this one?

No, of course not. OP and her buddies are allowed to bash parents online, that doesn't count

DP. OP specifically said that adults are also rotting their brains (which is definitely true of myself and most of the adults I know). Y'all couldn't be bothered to read the entire OP.

SMH

I go through phases of saying exactly what OP is posting about. I used to watch a ton of tv as a child. I also read a lot of magazines. In college, I read newspapers and journals. I went to the movies often. I yapped on the phone for hours and hours. Times have just changed. Now kids text. Instagram is like the magazines. No one reads paper newspapers anymore. It is what it is.

The part I’m not used to is AI and chat Gpt. I remember I used to look at memos and papers in attempts to write similarly. Now AI does it for you.

+1 Nothing is different than what we’ve done in the past, except AI and maybe being on screen time while traveling. Before you just listened to the radio or CDs/tape cassettes in the car. But there was always almost some type of media being consumed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this rotting of the minds apply to forums like this one?

No, of course not. OP and her buddies are allowed to bash parents online, that doesn't count

DP. OP specifically said that adults are also rotting their brains (which is definitely true of myself and most of the adults I know). Y'all couldn't be bothered to read the entire OP.

SMH

I go through phases of saying exactly what OP is posting about. I used to watch a ton of tv as a child. I also read a lot of magazines. In college, I read newspapers and journals. I went to the movies often. I yapped on the phone for hours and hours. Times have just changed. Now kids text. Instagram is like the magazines. No one reads paper newspapers anymore. It is what it is.

The part I’m not used to is AI and chat Gpt. I remember I used to look at memos and papers in attempts to write similarly. Now AI does it for you.

+1 Nothing is different than what we’ve done in the past, except AI and maybe being on screen time while traveling. Before you just listened to the radio or CDs/tape cassettes in the car. But there was always almost some type of media being consumed.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree 100%. But of course you’ve offended the hoards of parents that are too lazy to parent their kids. Teachers see it too. I mentioned to my kids seconds grade teacher during the course of the parent teacher conference in the fall that my kid doesn’t have a tablet and isn’t allowed video games and the teacher said “well there you go, that’s why he’s so well behaved and doing so well.”

You realize the teacher was giving you the verbal equivalent of a pat on the head like the needy little lapdog you are, don’t you?

Wow wow wow this topic really hits a nerve for some people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this rotting of the minds apply to forums like this one?

No, of course not. OP and her buddies are allowed to bash parents online, that doesn't count

DP. OP specifically said that adults are also rotting their brains (which is definitely true of myself and most of the adults I know). Y'all couldn't be bothered to read the entire OP.

SMH

I go through phases of saying exactly what OP is posting about. I used to watch a ton of tv as a child. I also read a lot of magazines. In college, I read newspapers and journals. I went to the movies often. I yapped on the phone for hours and hours. Times have just changed. Now kids text. Instagram is like the magazines. No one reads paper newspapers anymore. It is what it is.

The part I’m not used to is AI and chat Gpt. I remember I used to look at memos and papers in attempts to write similarly. Now AI does it for you.

+1 Nothing is different than what we’ve done in the past, except AI and maybe being on screen time while traveling. Before you just listened to the radio or CDs/tape cassettes in the car. But there was always almost some type of media being consumed.

It’s not the same at all. The problem now is the rapidly changing context and content. Basically the short form videos. They mess up our brain’s reward system so then nothing in the real world feels as good… except drugs/alcohol which is obviously not ideal haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this rotting of the minds apply to forums like this one?

No, of course not. OP and her buddies are allowed to bash parents online, that doesn't count

DP. OP specifically said that adults are also rotting their brains (which is definitely true of myself and most of the adults I know). Y'all couldn't be bothered to read the entire OP.

SMH

I go through phases of saying exactly what OP is posting about. I used to watch a ton of tv as a child. I also read a lot of magazines. In college, I read newspapers and journals. I went to the movies often. I yapped on the phone for hours and hours. Times have just changed. Now kids text. Instagram is like the magazines. No one reads paper newspapers anymore. It is what it is.

The part I’m not used to is AI and chat Gpt. I remember I used to look at memos and papers in attempts to write similarly. Now AI does it for you.

+1 Nothing is different than what we’ve done in the past, except AI and maybe being on screen time while traveling. Before you just listened to the radio or CDs/tape cassettes in the car. But there was always almost some type of media being consumed.

It’s not the same at all. The problem now is the rapidly changing context and content. Basically the short form videos. They mess up our brain’s reward system so then nothing in the real world feels as good… except drugs/alcohol which is obviously not ideal haha

Hmmm I don’t think this is true at all. I watched all this junk on tv. Pretty sure guys have been looking at playboy or maxim. The big difference is the algorithms. Social media targets what you are interested in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes me sad is seeing a toddler pushed in a stroller holding a phone or iPad rather than looking at the world around them. I take a bus to work and there is often a nanny with a 2 yr old and 3 yr old waiting for the same bus. If we have more than a minute wait, she gives the older one her phone. Once we're on the bus, the kids are on the phone together. Why they can't play I Spy or practice counting, I don't know.

I waited in a 20 minute line Sunday with a 5 yr old, and we practiced days of the week, talked about rain and puddles and clouds, steps to making a pie, the types of things people go to the post office for, etc. I think he can do this because he's always done it - he's never had a phone or iPad in the stroller or car or highchair.

I never allowed my kids to have electronics when they were 2 and 3 except for long flights (over 5 hours) - nothing in restaurants, nothing in cars, etc. But I certainly wouldn't judge someone with a 2 and 3 year old using public transportation for surviving in that way.

[Anonymous]

They don’t care. “But I need a breeeeeaaaaak.” “It’s too haaaard.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think people are fully aware of the learning that takes place for kids when they are observing everyday situations. I also don’t think people are aware of the consequences as far as training the attention span either.

“Rotting brains” is not a helpful or scientific term. However, there are consequences like anxiety, inattention, lack of focus, lack of memory, etc.

Unfortunately the schools are the biggest offenders.

No, that’s the lazy parent line, but HOME is the biggest offender, and it’s not close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes me sad is seeing a toddler pushed in a stroller holding a phone or iPad rather than looking at the world around them. I take a bus to work and there is often a nanny with a 2 yr old and 3 yr old waiting for the same bus. If we have more than a minute wait, she gives the older one her phone. Once we're on the bus, the kids are on the phone together. Why they can't play I Spy or practice counting, I don't know.

I waited in a 20 minute line Sunday with a 5 yr old, and we practiced days of the week, talked about rain and puddles and clouds, steps to making a pie, the types of things people go to the post office for, etc. I think he can do this because he's always done it - he's never had a phone or iPad in the stroller or car or highchair.

What makes me sad is all the judgements people like you give to everyone. We are such a polarized society of perfect people - "if-only-everyone-can-be-like-me people". Since you are perfect, there is no room for growth and introspection. Your kids, I'm sure, are perfect too. Did you flashcard how to be perfect while you were in line at the post office? It might be on that kindergarten readiness assessment.

Imagine a world where we empathize with people and understand events from multiple perspectives, like maybe other people's perspectives..... the world would be a different place.

I don’t disagree with the stay in your lane idea here, but I do think a big reason our culture lacks empathy is because of screens. Many teenagers and young adults raised on screens do not know how to talk to others - they are so used to talking from behind a keyboard.

Are kids losing some of the skills that come with having to wait without entertainment or talk to people face-to-face in order to communicate? Sure.

Is every kid on a device when you see them for 5 minutes out of their day doomed? Not likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes me sad is seeing a toddler pushed in a stroller holding a phone or iPad rather than looking at the world around them. I take a bus to work and there is often a nanny with a 2 yr old and 3 yr old waiting for the same bus. If we have more than a minute wait, she gives the older one her phone. Once we're on the bus, the kids are on the phone together. Why they can't play I Spy or practice counting, I don't know.

I waited in a 20 minute line Sunday with a 5 yr old, and we practiced days of the week, talked about rain and puddles and clouds, steps to making a pie, the types of things people go to the post office for, etc. I think he can do this because he's always done it - he's never had a phone or iPad in the stroller or car or highchair.

What makes me sad is all the judgements people like you give to everyone. We are such a polarized society of perfect people - "if-only-everyone-can-be-like-me people". Since you are perfect, there is no room for growth and introspection. Your kids, I'm sure, are perfect too. Did you flashcard how to be perfect while you were in line at the post office? It might be on that kindergarten readiness assessment.

Imagine a world where we empathize with people and understand events from multiple perspectives, like maybe other people's perspectives..... the world would be a different place.

I don’t disagree with the stay in your lane idea here, but I do think a big reason our culture lacks empathy is because of screens. Many teenagers and young adults raised on screens do not know how to talk to others - they are so used to talking from behind a keyboard.

They actually do. Its just different and has nothign to do with empathy. My kids were reading by age 3. Was yours? And, yes they had screens in moderation. We never ever used a babysitter and so yes, sometimes we'd go out and had the kids iPads so we could get a break and talk. They were with me 24-7. If you are working and only have an hour or two a day with them, yes, that makes sense but some of our kids get our full attention all day every day.

You are legitimately pathetic. DP.