I know the world of technology is a different place now. But I _loved_ the fact that I had a computer in my room as a teenager in the early 2000s. It definitely contributed to me ending up in the career path where I am now, I enjoyed 'hacking' on the computer. And unlike the teenagers in the article, having the computer in my room gave me a sense of 'peace' in my room rather than vice versa.
'parenting' is not simply taking tech away from their children but rather about teaching a healthy relationship with technology, just as you would with food, sports, etc.
I wholeheartedly agree, which is why I started my original comment with saying that the tech landscape is different now. The current internet is essentially an addictive substance that seriously harms mental health and cognitive ability.
I'm not on social media, don't watch short-form content etc because I'm an adult and aware of the danger of these things. And I definitely think that parents should teach their kids the same, even if you can't outright forbid / ban it.
I suppose I did have to create my own fun, solving self created problem after self created problem. It was a completely different set of skills.
I still can't get into scrolling a feed hoping something is interesting. Sure, it happens in short bursts, but usually I'm trying to actually achieve something, even if it's only to satisfy a personal itch or curiosity.
There's something similar in many areas; reading the "car culture" of the 30s and 40s let alone the 50s and 60s is substantially different than what we have today.
We really need some sort of home tech curriculum, like let a kid play around with a transistor, a 286, making an ascii game, like graduated engagement that tries to keep the stimulation growing with the knowledge instead of just getting hit with a consumption machine.
Basically a tool to help kids realize they can be makers and not just consumers or products.
Depending on the technology and individual, there is very little 'healthy' technology for teens. I don't say 0, far from it, but given whats usually available its really a minimal set.
Also there is very little of 'technological skill' to learn, clicking around could be understood by little kids, rest is just usage. Sure, hackers and generally brilliant folks may actually thrive, but they are rare and far apart in general population.
There is endless stream of highly addictive technology, and those kids have absolutely 0 defenses against it. Alcoholics also never notice when they crossed the threshold of a proper addiction, its quiet and sneaky business as usual till you hit the wall hard in some way.
What a great way to prepare for adult life, entering it with some heavy but peer-accepted psychological addiction or two. What could go wrong, raising a strong balanced individual right. Pride for any parent.
Sadly, you are right. Everything is made to retain attention, feeding into the addiction. Games do this with live services and 'daily events', social media apps are tailored to keep you constantly hooked (I'm reading 'Algospeak' at the moment which talks about how linguistics plays a role here, recommended read).
I don't think I know of a good parenting solution to this, to be honest. But if parents read this and want to chime in, I'm quite curious to see how others handle this. And I'm assuming the HN parenting crowd is a technical audience that understands the risks involved.
I have a toddler. We never let them play with a smartphone or tablet. Occasionally we show family photos, and rarely we will show them a video. But an adult is always holding the device and in control.
The toddler does have a "Yoto," which is a thing that plays music and little stories for kids. They love it, and I think it's kind of cool. We also let them watch a few shows on TV, but only during the afternoon. It usually gives the adults a chance to do something else, like cook dinner, but if there's an adult available, we try to do something else besides watch TV. Jellyfin has been great for curating a small list of parent-approved shows, with no other shows vying for my kid's attention.
When they get a little older, I would like to introduce video games. It would be either a home console with no online connection, or maybe some kind of Linux box that I've locked down.
We will be avoiding social media and similar platforms for as long as we can. That is where I feel the most worst, brain-warping dangers exist.
I know the world of technology is a different place now. But I _loved_ the fact that I had a computer in my room as a teenager in the early 2000s. It definitely contributed to me ending up in the career path where I am now, I enjoyed 'hacking' on the computer. And unlike the teenagers in the article, having the computer in my room gave me a sense of 'peace' in my room rather than vice versa.
'parenting' is not simply taking tech away from their children but rather about teaching a healthy relationship with technology, just as you would with food, sports, etc.
The difference is when you were a teenager you didn't have algorithmic feeds keeping you glued to the screen like today's youth are.
I wholeheartedly agree, which is why I started my original comment with saying that the tech landscape is different now. The current internet is essentially an addictive substance that seriously harms mental health and cognitive ability.
I'm not on social media, don't watch short-form content etc because I'm an adult and aware of the danger of these things. And I definitely think that parents should teach their kids the same, even if you can't outright forbid / ban it.
I suppose I did have to create my own fun, solving self created problem after self created problem. It was a completely different set of skills.
I still can't get into scrolling a feed hoping something is interesting. Sure, it happens in short bursts, but usually I'm trying to actually achieve something, even if it's only to satisfy a personal itch or curiosity.
[dead]
There's something similar in many areas; reading the "car culture" of the 30s and 40s let alone the 50s and 60s is substantially different than what we have today.
The very same, but those days are long gone. Nowadays, I find myself steering my kids away from a career in tech. It's such a dismal place to be.
We really need some sort of home tech curriculum, like let a kid play around with a transistor, a 286, making an ascii game, like graduated engagement that tries to keep the stimulation growing with the knowledge instead of just getting hit with a consumption machine.
Basically a tool to help kids realize they can be makers and not just consumers or products.
Did you have broadband or dialup?
There's a big difference between being offline and being online.
Ahh, I started out with dial-up in the 90s. By the time I got a computer in my room we had broadband though.
Depending on the technology and individual, there is very little 'healthy' technology for teens. I don't say 0, far from it, but given whats usually available its really a minimal set.
Also there is very little of 'technological skill' to learn, clicking around could be understood by little kids, rest is just usage. Sure, hackers and generally brilliant folks may actually thrive, but they are rare and far apart in general population.
There is endless stream of highly addictive technology, and those kids have absolutely 0 defenses against it. Alcoholics also never notice when they crossed the threshold of a proper addiction, its quiet and sneaky business as usual till you hit the wall hard in some way.
What a great way to prepare for adult life, entering it with some heavy but peer-accepted psychological addiction or two. What could go wrong, raising a strong balanced individual right. Pride for any parent.
Sadly, you are right. Everything is made to retain attention, feeding into the addiction. Games do this with live services and 'daily events', social media apps are tailored to keep you constantly hooked (I'm reading 'Algospeak' at the moment which talks about how linguistics plays a role here, recommended read).
I don't think I know of a good parenting solution to this, to be honest. But if parents read this and want to chime in, I'm quite curious to see how others handle this. And I'm assuming the HN parenting crowd is a technical audience that understands the risks involved.
I have a toddler. We never let them play with a smartphone or tablet. Occasionally we show family photos, and rarely we will show them a video. But an adult is always holding the device and in control.
The toddler does have a "Yoto," which is a thing that plays music and little stories for kids. They love it, and I think it's kind of cool. We also let them watch a few shows on TV, but only during the afternoon. It usually gives the adults a chance to do something else, like cook dinner, but if there's an adult available, we try to do something else besides watch TV. Jellyfin has been great for curating a small list of parent-approved shows, with no other shows vying for my kid's attention.
When they get a little older, I would like to introduce video games. It would be either a home console with no online connection, or maybe some kind of Linux box that I've locked down.
We will be avoiding social media and similar platforms for as long as we can. That is where I feel the most worst, brain-warping dangers exist.
they'll rebel against anything!
I do enjoy how Eliza's big plan is to go sit on the stairs, and in her family's regular spots on the couch! Very funny and relatable