I get nervous when I read these kinds of things, but when I interact with kids in person, they seem...fine. Maybe not quite as engaging as I would expect, but fine.
As for the "always bored" comment, I must warn you that adults do not remember even a fraction of the whining they did as children. My kids are not allowed any screens, and they still often complain they are bored (despite a wide variety of toys, activities, etc.)
I cannot say whether Covid or the lockdown plays a role.
For many years I have become increasingly concerned with the dopamine addiction among our young people. I believe this is going to have devastating effects over the next 10-30 years, possibly beyond my lifespan. Psychological disorders are on the rise and increasing, and much of it reflecting our inability to be content in our moments, something that was drilled into us decades ago, whether willingly or not.
I hadn't considered the role of technology as a backdrop to all of our current mental states, but I think it is a good callout! Your point about the computer as a "family appliance" is well made. When I was a kid, connecting to the internet meant disconnecting the family phone line, so connected times were brief, thoughtful, and relegated to a specific spot in the house (in our case, a desk in the dining room, at the center of the home). Now, our phones are connected 24/7 no matter where we are- it's a major shift.
I get nervous when I read these kinds of things, but when I interact with kids in person, they seem...fine. Maybe not quite as engaging as I would expect, but fine.
As for the "always bored" comment, I must warn you that adults do not remember even a fraction of the whining they did as children. My kids are not allowed any screens, and they still often complain they are bored (despite a wide variety of toys, activities, etc.)
I cannot say whether Covid or the lockdown plays a role.
For many years I have become increasingly concerned with the dopamine addiction among our young people. I believe this is going to have devastating effects over the next 10-30 years, possibly beyond my lifespan. Psychological disorders are on the rise and increasing, and much of it reflecting our inability to be content in our moments, something that was drilled into us decades ago, whether willingly or not.
I hadn't considered the role of technology as a backdrop to all of our current mental states, but I think it is a good callout! Your point about the computer as a "family appliance" is well made. When I was a kid, connecting to the internet meant disconnecting the family phone line, so connected times were brief, thoughtful, and relegated to a specific spot in the house (in our case, a desk in the dining room, at the center of the home). Now, our phones are connected 24/7 no matter where we are- it's a major shift.