WORLDVIEW: How switching off screen time can help you & your kids
A UK charity warned this week that children under five are in danger of suffering the ills of internet addiction, including damage to their social skills and mental health. The world is already full of adults who can't seem to walk along the pavement in a straight line because they're so distracted by their phones. Now, it seems, we're trying to turn our kids into a Black Mirror episode.
The idea that a four-year-old may be addicted to the internet is a scary thought, but it doesn't strike me as unreasonable. Wherever I go, I see children as young as two or three playing with their parent's phones or their own personal tablets, watching YouTube videos (Baby Shark, anyone?) or playing games.
Now, I'm sympathetic. Looking after small kids is a really tough job, and when you're in a restaurant or on a train, sometimes all you want is some type of child-sedation device that will let you get through your meal without a meltdown. YouTube videos can be a godsend for the overwrought parent.
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