Words: Evie Clark (she/her)
So, are we as a society destined for destruction? Alert! Fatal System Error 404: Humanity not Found?
Much to our dismay, whether in a park, plane, or restaurant, most of us have crossed paths with a child wholly enraptured by the digital universe. Latently permeated by algorithms designed to lure, ensnare, and entrap, children appear to have developed a unique, kicking and screaming sort of separation anxiety from their most prized possessions: their iPads (or whichever device is within reach). Hence, we have exercised our mockery of these individuals by aptly nicknaming them “iPad Kids”.
But, perhaps in “memeifying” these children, we fail to properly take into consideration the real impact of this disconnection on their social development. Furthermore, in a world where real life human connections are increasingly severed by our screens, it’s not only the “iPad Kids” who suffer: the very notion of community itself breaks down.
The University of Rochester is currently working to investigate to what extent these ‘children with excessive screen use’ are truly at risk. Whilst the research into the biological impact is still in its infancy, they have discovered that “iPad Kids” seem to have developed behavioural issues often shown through their difficulties in social contexts and decreased connection with their guardians. Now, this all sounds slightly vague, but it’s undeniable that we live in a world which unfortunately facilitates the ‘addiction’ that the study talks about.
Firstly, ease of access is a huge factor as to why the “iPad Kid” epidemic has become so widespread. It’s easy for parents, who want peace whilst waiting for their food at a restaurant, to keep their fussy 5-year-old at bay by handing them a screen. Why not use Cocomelon as a digital nanny when childcare costs skyrocket? How much can we really blame these parents when, on a broader level, we live in an inherently capitalistic, exploitative society? This is a world where tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Google churn out smartphones and tablets at lightning speeds, and social media overlord TikTok (which is a cesspit of sensationalism, shock content, misinformation, and clickbait) pumps out content as if its onomatopoeic namesake, a ticking clock, is attached to a bomb with a fuse.
When an average of 560,000 iPhones and 34 million TikToks are produced every day, both hardware and software have become all-encompassing, ever-present, and, as a result, inescapable.
It’s not just the “iPad Kids” at risk, though: it’s the “Temu-Warrior” mothers, the Amazon Prime fathers, the “Deer-Pretty” daughters, and the “Tate-Transfixed” sons. We are all victims of a digital universe designed to turn us into the worst versions of ourselves.
The National Library of Medicine points to technology’s negative impact on multiple faculties of what it means to be human: physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing. We are strained on every level: physically through our eyes, necks, shoulders and backs, and mentally through depression and anxiety. The excessive usage of screens damages our relationships and cognitive development to degrees we cannot even begin to see the full scope of.
So, are we as a society destined for destruction? Alert! Fatal System Error 404: Humanity not Found?
Or, are there ways we can escape the paradox of becoming decreasingly socially connected in an increasingly digitally connected world? To quote an article written by Ramesh Meda, ‘Ultimately, it calls for a collective effort – by individuals, families, educators and leaders – to restore balance and create a world where technology complements, rather than replaces, authentic human interaction’.
The University of Rochester’s study makes an important distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ screentime, so on a positive note, it’s not all evil! Educational shows, shared screen time (i.e. watched with a guardian), and social media games that require positive interactions, are all ways that we can transform the “iPad Kid” back into a kid.
As individuals, we may feel powerless against these incomprehensibly large tech corporations and systems of power. How much can we trust our global leaders to enforce real change on such an immense scale? Honestly, not a lot in our current political landscape! As a result, in a world where technology is inescapable, there are personal decisions to be made about what we immerse ourselves in. Beyond technology, and while it may sound incredibly cliche, journaling (it works!), spending time in nature, reading, baking, sitting down and engaging in meaningful conversations with friends and family, and making a conscious effort to enforce the ‘no phones at the dinner table’ rule, truly can be your own personal rebellion against technology. It’s a small start, but hopefully we can make humanity’s future not (entirely) bleak. Be artistic, creative, kind, imaginative, musical, poetic, scientific, and adventurous, and there may be some community left after all.
