““Gen Z became the first generation in history to go through puberty with a portal in their pockets that called them away from the people nearby and into an alternative universe." ~ Jonathan Haidt
I have an 8 year old daughter and a 12 year old son that both don't have nor use cell phones. It is really difficult because their peers nearly all now all own cell phones. Not my daughter's peers but my son's.Its hard because all kids want to fit in including mine. The only answer right now is that my kids have off screen interactions with their friends. And their parents support that. So its a way of meeting in the middle. We also home school, so I do find the few parents that don't give tweens cell phones that way, by meeting other home school families. But everything you are saying in the article, we have been dealing with since my son was in kindergarten. I remember in public kindergarten, every 5 year old played video games. I forgot the names of the games, but they were shooter games, and in my view inappropriate for small children. My son was the only kid and is still the only kid that wasn't allowed to play video games. That I think helped him get used to being the only kid with "strict" parents. He managed to have a group of friends, who he played with off line.
I have three young grandsons, all under the age of seven. Of course, they don't have phones, but they are very aware of them, because they are a part of daily life for all of us adults as we use them for work. My daughter and her husband are very strict with screen time. My daughter took the oldest out of the after-school program since they were allowing kids to be on tablets to play games that were appropriate for that age, but still, my daughter wanted him to be playing rather than sitting in front of a screen. The schools for young children in her area are really good. But I worry about school when they get older. It's great that you homeschool your children. It gives an added layer of protection from peer pressure. My grandsons are busy with after school sports. This is one way my daughter and her husband are instilling in them good habits of keeping busy apart from screens. It's time consuming taking them to all the sports, but necessary, and fun. That you've been able to find and connect with those rare kids that aren't on screens is a huge advantage in this war on children's minds.
I think that ultimately they want everyone to be online and hooked up to our controllers from birth until death. That we have no "off screen" interactions. The age that kids get wireless devices is getting younger and younger. People give cell phones to babies to play with-- I have seen it.
Thanks very much for this..I've been saying the same thing for a very long time.I have absolutely no time for modern parenting,if you can even honestly refer to it as that,and I certainly didn't adopt it when my son,now 37,was young.My response to people saying,'You can't do that,or say that' is '" Stand back and watch me,and by the way don't tell me what I can do and say!
A whole generation of obnoxious,spoiled brats isn't much to show for so called progressive parenting I'm afraid,and the fact that I'm speaking about England and not the US shows how bad habits and bad practices spread1 One observation perhaps worth making about the first case you highlighted,about the suicide of the teenager.Why has the stepfather of the kid not been charged with culpable homicide for allowing a lethal weapon to be so easily found and used? It should have been under lock and key at the very least,and the idiot adult needs to face the consequences of his negligence..Whether a belief on God is a requirement for moral values is a debatable matter.Personally I've known so many who professed piety and a belief in god who I frankly wouldn't put out if they were on fire ! I remember very well that during the 1960's on British TV during what was commonly referred to as the God Slot (religious programmes-usually a 'thought for the day by a vicar or pious celebrity),a clergyman actually said words to the effect that " If someone does not believe in God they cannot have any moral values"I recall it because it was the moment that absolutely turned me away from religion as a child.
Children are not adults,nor should they be treated as if they are. I certainly don't believe in patronising them or talking down to them,but equally I certainly don't think they have the maturity or the knowledge to talk to me as if they are my equal or superior..
One of my favourite film lines is the one which John Wayne uses in that great film "The Cowboys ,when one of the young cowboys feels he should be in charge in his absence and says so. Wayne simply replies "Big mouth don't make a big man son!"'Just about says it all.
I agree wholeheartedly. We can be thankful we aren't facing the challenges of raising our children today. Our kids were lucky (my kids barely squeaked by as the last ones without technology from a young age). I agree with you about hypocritical church goers. It's easy to say anything but living by your words is something else. I have an essay I've been working on about the televangelists that rose up in the 1980s and how I see them as the predecessors to the "influencers" of today.
Children have no more respect for their parents, number one, because parents so often don't practice what they preach, and children are fed a constant diet, from school to the screens, of disrespect and that words don't matter anyway. You can lie and twist the truth and it's okay if it fits with your emotional needs. It's all about emotion, reason has gone out with the wind.
"...A whole generation of obnoxious, spoiled brats ..." is simply a reflection of the weak kneed parents who created them. John Thorpe is absolutely correct: "..Children are not adults, nor should they be treated as if they are...." Sure, they are not animals, but every form of animal life nurtures their young and teaches them the skills that enable them to survive and ultimately lead a productive adult life. Too many parents do not see the distinction: the digital tech industry has provided an excellent means for essential communication - it is NOT an excellent means of entertainment.
I was shocked that the 15-year-old child's allowed time on his phone was 6 hours--ending at 1 am!!! And they wondered why the problems arose.
But even if kids aren't interacting every second of the day and night, their phones are on and they are constantly aware of their phones. The connection to the Vast Machine becomes almost unbreakable. It's scary. I do sympathize with parents. It's like keeping kids away from McDonalds, eventually, they find out about it, and they want to go, and like I said, because of the power that has been given to children, they will not stop complaining until they get what they want. And if their parents don't give it to them, they will find other ways to get it. We really live in a world where evil has taken hold in the most insidious ways. The battle is intense.
I am not a parent so I can only speak hypothetically and from when I was a child. When we were told no, it meant no, and we knew there would be consequences if we didn’t respect our parents response to our question.
No matter what age we were, it was always, “if you live under our roof, you abide by our rules.” And yes, my siblings and myself did some minor rebelling, but we always knew what the consequence would be.
It wasn’t a hard concept since it had been put in place and enforced from the very start of our childhood.
Exactly. I was raised in the same way and that's how I raised my children. However, my children were of the age that were the last children who knew what it was like to live without smart phones. This is a different world; unlike anything we have ever seen. And as I pointed out, it didn't start with smart phones. It's been building slowly and insidiously since the 1950s. Children were given power they should never have had. That's why when parents say "No" now, it doesn't necessarily hold the weight it used to with a child. It's a terrible turn of events. I know parents that just keep their kids as busy as possible with sports and events, but it's a kind of desperation. It's as if they are fighting against time and a force that keeps breaking through their defenses. I am thankful I'm not a parent of young children now, but I have grandchildren, and I worry for them. It does not bode well for the future. The only thing I can say is that the entire tech structure will fall eventually. But not without doing horrific damage first.
As I see it, it's like sailing past Scylla and Charibdis. Those who manage to resist the calls will have a life to live; those who cannot will be enslaved. It is that simple, and that terrible.
one more thought that makes it soooo hard is that just as your daughter experienced kids bein' "allowed" tablets at their school, fer bigger kids havin' phones & "devices" is actually required (an' it's AWFUL). Also the EMF "smog" their growin' brains are put in as a result--all schools / dorms wired ta the hilt.
Assignments are now sent via apps, you need a phone app to scan to git inta the cafeteria at all these colleges (my kid didn't have one and to check in with the guard which I had to set up specially fer her summer program), Nearly all schools have assignments submitted thru these clunky "portals" an' all colleges take this gawd awful thing called "common app" which is the only way to apply... some schools track the students 24/7 (on my list to write about)... so even with my homeschooled kid bein' spared "the worst of it" --most places insist on this stuff (even the ballet school makes you sign up fer an app in case there are last min changes or closures)--they need ta walk this back, have kids take notes on paper, submit (at least) typed assignments an' not all diggy-tail...
I know some parents who were confiscating the phone at 11. The child's THERAPIST told them they were being controlling and the child needed some autonomy. And that the child absolutely must be permitted to have phone in room all night. The parents deferred to expert advice.
Every single institution of power stands against parents on this issue.
I can answer the question. I have birthed two children and been in a parental role for 7 more. By that I mean I was acknowledged as a "second mom" by their biological parents and the kids lived with me for at least a few months of their childhood. My horde is presently 17-30 years old.
The schools, activities, and social connections are all managed via cell phone app. During covid, the schools had an online health pre-check. You could either print your code at home, or show it on your phone. When the kids arrived at school, all the phone kids went first. Kids with paper passes were off to one side, slowly processed into the building last. These were middle schoolers, set apart as last and least, BY TEACHERS, because they didn't have a phone.
Want to buy a ticket to a show or concert? Half of them have no paper options now. People without phones can't get in at all.
Want to have your kids in a sport, a choir, or any other activity? The scheduling is done via app.
Party invitations? "Let's hang out tomorrow?" All by app.
Parents must weigh the relative risks of complete social isolation and frequent PUBLIC humiliation vs the harms of a phone. I held out as long as I could,longer than anyone else I knew. Caved at 14.
Thank you. This is reality for parents. It's also reality for jobs, for every part of daily life now. As you say, you hold out as long as you can. The next thing is the battle to keep kids off their phones. It's a battle parents are losing, and I really don't want to judge them for that. As you say, those in power have made it impossible to live within society and not be an outcast without giving in to these devices.
Your comments really hit home as a fellow parent. I have had to be comfortable with being different, outcast, rebel...etc. It boils down for me to taking a stand. And also having your children be part of that. That is a major reason for pulling my children out of school. What you describe is what we experienced in kindergarten. They wanted my son on an ipad. At first grade, I had to have a meeting with the principal because I was the lone hold out. I asked that my son be able to complete his work with pen and paper. All I can say is that living through the Covid tyranny without wearing a mask has armored me against the ridicule and societal disapproval of not giving in to letting your kids have cell phones. So pray for me because my son is still 12 and we have more years to go.
I will pray for you. You are not alone in your struggle. Defying the Covid mandates made warriors out of many parents. There is no end to people looking at you like you are crazy when you go against the crowd.
At least you "held out" and dealt with arising issues as rationally as circumstances allowed. So many parents consider this to be "The Age of Entitlement" that allows kids to disrespectfully demand solutions to their wants. Materialism and un-principled commercialism has created the politics of envy.
It's interesting (and a little disconcerting) that in all the time I've been a subscriber, your emails have always come directly into my Inbox. However this email went into the Junk folder. First time that's happened. I wonder if it was the subject matter ...
Thank-you again for this. Children from that generation are especially "entitled" when they use AI but as you said, their behavior in this direction is increasingly awful. It is one thing to begin to think independently, you want that for your children, but remember when we were kids... "Children should be seen and not heard." ...and of course for you and me it is not literal however, all humans should show respect to others and children to adults... well, I'm still not good with children addressing adults by their first names without "Mr" "Mrs" "Auntie" etc.
Yep. As I said in another comment, children are indoctrinated in school and online to disrespect their parents, to be their own little boss. To think words don't matter, meanings can be changed, and promises can be broken. A kid is allowed to say anything, make any sort of claim, if it helps them feel better about themselves, no matter if it's true or not. It's all about feelings. Reason is of no value. Truth is offensive because it often hurts. Nobody should feel bad about themselves. Sadly, the more children are fed these lies, the worse they actually DO feel. They have no emotional or mental resilience.
omgosh. That perfectly describes someone with whom I am struggling and upon whom I am trying to shed light. They simply cannot hear. It is as if I am talking to a cat. No, worse.
frightenin'!--had no idea 'bout these custom "companions" yeesh, that first scenario skeered me no end! so we recently know a fambly that was askin' me 'bout homeschooling CUZ their 11 year old was cuttin' herself per peer pressure an' some kind of "online" thing even the parents didn't understand an' no amount of meds (yep I know) or "psychiatric care" includin' time spent in hoss-spit-all has fixed it. I suggested they take away the phone (not just limit it) an' mentioned that fewer homeschoolers are phone-addicted. all this gender stuff is also AI/Chatbot whatever underpinned too... An' yer right, parents have no idear what their kids are doin'--
When my younger one got inta a competitive summer musical theater program she was nearly overcome with tears learnin' nearly all of the girls there were all (basically) "ho's"--a world my girl had never seen but these kids were hookin' up at the university hostin' the program an' braggin' 'bout their "kinky" sexual exploits an' multiple partners an' we debated pullin' her out--I complained to the program organizers askin' JUST that these kids not share this info in educational spaces where others might hear 'em--like the lunch room, classroom, changing room, etc but basically they shouted "free speech" back at me (porno is not free speech in all cases but schools have a cut out for porn!)--anywho, my kid stuck it out, found a nice homeschooled friend in an'nuther program and after many nights in tears on the phone with me callin' home--we navigated the situation an' it turned out okay--but see these other girls were the "norm" (porn/norm)--what'll become of 'em? Funny story re yer mentioning the parents think they are home/safe... I imagined on the recital day at the end I'd be seein' a lotta young parents / MILF mamas pardon mah french, "stacked" gym daddies b/c I could not IMAGINE that kids this sexed-up would have anything but reality-teevee-influence parents. Golly I was surprised--they were like the most normal lookin' modestly dressed middle aged parents I'd ever seen--I was shocked.
I really think they are livin' in their parent bubbles an' do not know what their kids are doin' (or if I daresay) planning! They do this stuff thru apps... (I only allow my girls dumb phones no apps an' even limit textin'...) It's brutal out there! Lots even I don't know ('cept the instinct ta kick it all in the trash this stuff) Thanks fer lettin' us in on JUST how dark it gits...
I spent most of the period from my mid-teens to my mid-thirties in cycles of deep depression and burnout, followed by somewhat better (but shorter) periods. Eventually, I was diagnosed autistic, which explained a lot. I got engaged the same year, which has also done wonders for my mental health.
I spent a lot of time in my depressed years online, blogging. It was a way of making friends, as, being autistic and socially anxious, I struggled with making in-person friendships. In retrospect, there might have been better things for me to do, but at least it was some kind of interpersonal contact, even if long-distance and sometimes one-sided.
I worry about what might have happened if I’d lived in the world of AI girlfriends. It sounds quite horrific and easy to get sucked into, particularly for autistic teenagers with poor social skills. A black hole they might never emerge from.
My wife and I are hoping to start a family and are already trying to cut down our screen time. We don’t want our kids online a lot, or at all until secondary school, and we want to set a good example. Plus, I feel that boredom has become a precious freedom, strange though that sounds. Not having things to do gives me time to think or just to be present in the world. As Orthodox Jews, we also don’t use screens on the Sabbath, which is precious to me, although my wife finds it harder (not being without screens, but coming back to a pile of work emails afterwards; I’m fortunate that my job isn’t like that).
Having missed the anti-social signals that Sewell would have emitted before his suicide, his parents now choose to absolve their lack of parental responsibilities by suing the tech company creator of Dany. Where were they when Sewell was growing up? Did they ever lovingly interact with him- child of their own flesh and blood? Were they so lax in their observance that they did not care that the .45 pistol was not where it should have been? Or were they totally distracted with their own play things? The tragedy is that Sewell's parents could not see the tragedy that was to consume their own son - and now they think they are entitled to $$$$s that will resolve their grief and clear their conscience. Tragic!!!
Lord have mercy on us.
I have an 8 year old daughter and a 12 year old son that both don't have nor use cell phones. It is really difficult because their peers nearly all now all own cell phones. Not my daughter's peers but my son's.Its hard because all kids want to fit in including mine. The only answer right now is that my kids have off screen interactions with their friends. And their parents support that. So its a way of meeting in the middle. We also home school, so I do find the few parents that don't give tweens cell phones that way, by meeting other home school families. But everything you are saying in the article, we have been dealing with since my son was in kindergarten. I remember in public kindergarten, every 5 year old played video games. I forgot the names of the games, but they were shooter games, and in my view inappropriate for small children. My son was the only kid and is still the only kid that wasn't allowed to play video games. That I think helped him get used to being the only kid with "strict" parents. He managed to have a group of friends, who he played with off line.
I have three young grandsons, all under the age of seven. Of course, they don't have phones, but they are very aware of them, because they are a part of daily life for all of us adults as we use them for work. My daughter and her husband are very strict with screen time. My daughter took the oldest out of the after-school program since they were allowing kids to be on tablets to play games that were appropriate for that age, but still, my daughter wanted him to be playing rather than sitting in front of a screen. The schools for young children in her area are really good. But I worry about school when they get older. It's great that you homeschool your children. It gives an added layer of protection from peer pressure. My grandsons are busy with after school sports. This is one way my daughter and her husband are instilling in them good habits of keeping busy apart from screens. It's time consuming taking them to all the sports, but necessary, and fun. That you've been able to find and connect with those rare kids that aren't on screens is a huge advantage in this war on children's minds.
I think that ultimately they want everyone to be online and hooked up to our controllers from birth until death. That we have no "off screen" interactions. The age that kids get wireless devices is getting younger and younger. People give cell phones to babies to play with-- I have seen it.
Yep. It's so easy. Just hand a baby a device and they will stare at it. Horrible.
Thanks very much for this..I've been saying the same thing for a very long time.I have absolutely no time for modern parenting,if you can even honestly refer to it as that,and I certainly didn't adopt it when my son,now 37,was young.My response to people saying,'You can't do that,or say that' is '" Stand back and watch me,and by the way don't tell me what I can do and say!
A whole generation of obnoxious,spoiled brats isn't much to show for so called progressive parenting I'm afraid,and the fact that I'm speaking about England and not the US shows how bad habits and bad practices spread1 One observation perhaps worth making about the first case you highlighted,about the suicide of the teenager.Why has the stepfather of the kid not been charged with culpable homicide for allowing a lethal weapon to be so easily found and used? It should have been under lock and key at the very least,and the idiot adult needs to face the consequences of his negligence..Whether a belief on God is a requirement for moral values is a debatable matter.Personally I've known so many who professed piety and a belief in god who I frankly wouldn't put out if they were on fire ! I remember very well that during the 1960's on British TV during what was commonly referred to as the God Slot (religious programmes-usually a 'thought for the day by a vicar or pious celebrity),a clergyman actually said words to the effect that " If someone does not believe in God they cannot have any moral values"I recall it because it was the moment that absolutely turned me away from religion as a child.
Children are not adults,nor should they be treated as if they are. I certainly don't believe in patronising them or talking down to them,but equally I certainly don't think they have the maturity or the knowledge to talk to me as if they are my equal or superior..
One of my favourite film lines is the one which John Wayne uses in that great film "The Cowboys ,when one of the young cowboys feels he should be in charge in his absence and says so. Wayne simply replies "Big mouth don't make a big man son!"'Just about says it all.
I agree wholeheartedly. We can be thankful we aren't facing the challenges of raising our children today. Our kids were lucky (my kids barely squeaked by as the last ones without technology from a young age). I agree with you about hypocritical church goers. It's easy to say anything but living by your words is something else. I have an essay I've been working on about the televangelists that rose up in the 1980s and how I see them as the predecessors to the "influencers" of today.
Children have no more respect for their parents, number one, because parents so often don't practice what they preach, and children are fed a constant diet, from school to the screens, of disrespect and that words don't matter anyway. You can lie and twist the truth and it's okay if it fits with your emotional needs. It's all about emotion, reason has gone out with the wind.
"...A whole generation of obnoxious, spoiled brats ..." is simply a reflection of the weak kneed parents who created them. John Thorpe is absolutely correct: "..Children are not adults, nor should they be treated as if they are...." Sure, they are not animals, but every form of animal life nurtures their young and teaches them the skills that enable them to survive and ultimately lead a productive adult life. Too many parents do not see the distinction: the digital tech industry has provided an excellent means for essential communication - it is NOT an excellent means of entertainment.
Utterly shocking. Thank you for illuminating us. People need to know to prevent their kids and grandkids from this insidious evil.
Absolutely. I dread researching or writing about this stuff, but I know I have to. It is so necessary.
It is beyond my comprehension as to how “adults” would ever place junk like this within the reach of children. (The why is $$$$$)
I was shocked that the 15-year-old child's allowed time on his phone was 6 hours--ending at 1 am!!! And they wondered why the problems arose.
But even if kids aren't interacting every second of the day and night, their phones are on and they are constantly aware of their phones. The connection to the Vast Machine becomes almost unbreakable. It's scary. I do sympathize with parents. It's like keeping kids away from McDonalds, eventually, they find out about it, and they want to go, and like I said, because of the power that has been given to children, they will not stop complaining until they get what they want. And if their parents don't give it to them, they will find other ways to get it. We really live in a world where evil has taken hold in the most insidious ways. The battle is intense.
I am not a parent so I can only speak hypothetically and from when I was a child. When we were told no, it meant no, and we knew there would be consequences if we didn’t respect our parents response to our question.
No matter what age we were, it was always, “if you live under our roof, you abide by our rules.” And yes, my siblings and myself did some minor rebelling, but we always knew what the consequence would be.
It wasn’t a hard concept since it had been put in place and enforced from the very start of our childhood.
Exactly. I was raised in the same way and that's how I raised my children. However, my children were of the age that were the last children who knew what it was like to live without smart phones. This is a different world; unlike anything we have ever seen. And as I pointed out, it didn't start with smart phones. It's been building slowly and insidiously since the 1950s. Children were given power they should never have had. That's why when parents say "No" now, it doesn't necessarily hold the weight it used to with a child. It's a terrible turn of events. I know parents that just keep their kids as busy as possible with sports and events, but it's a kind of desperation. It's as if they are fighting against time and a force that keeps breaking through their defenses. I am thankful I'm not a parent of young children now, but I have grandchildren, and I worry for them. It does not bode well for the future. The only thing I can say is that the entire tech structure will fall eventually. But not without doing horrific damage first.
As I see it, it's like sailing past Scylla and Charibdis. Those who manage to resist the calls will have a life to live; those who cannot will be enslaved. It is that simple, and that terrible.
one more thought that makes it soooo hard is that just as your daughter experienced kids bein' "allowed" tablets at their school, fer bigger kids havin' phones & "devices" is actually required (an' it's AWFUL). Also the EMF "smog" their growin' brains are put in as a result--all schools / dorms wired ta the hilt.
Assignments are now sent via apps, you need a phone app to scan to git inta the cafeteria at all these colleges (my kid didn't have one and to check in with the guard which I had to set up specially fer her summer program), Nearly all schools have assignments submitted thru these clunky "portals" an' all colleges take this gawd awful thing called "common app" which is the only way to apply... some schools track the students 24/7 (on my list to write about)... so even with my homeschooled kid bein' spared "the worst of it" --most places insist on this stuff (even the ballet school makes you sign up fer an app in case there are last min changes or closures)--they need ta walk this back, have kids take notes on paper, submit (at least) typed assignments an' not all diggy-tail...
I know some parents who were confiscating the phone at 11. The child's THERAPIST told them they were being controlling and the child needed some autonomy. And that the child absolutely must be permitted to have phone in room all night. The parents deferred to expert advice.
Every single institution of power stands against parents on this issue.
Unbelievable. You reminded me that I have an essay about psychiatry that I should get back to finishing!
Take it from psychiatrist Peter R. Breggin: "You have no idea how cruel psychiatry is. ... This is really a battle between good and evil."
I can answer the question. I have birthed two children and been in a parental role for 7 more. By that I mean I was acknowledged as a "second mom" by their biological parents and the kids lived with me for at least a few months of their childhood. My horde is presently 17-30 years old.
The schools, activities, and social connections are all managed via cell phone app. During covid, the schools had an online health pre-check. You could either print your code at home, or show it on your phone. When the kids arrived at school, all the phone kids went first. Kids with paper passes were off to one side, slowly processed into the building last. These were middle schoolers, set apart as last and least, BY TEACHERS, because they didn't have a phone.
Want to buy a ticket to a show or concert? Half of them have no paper options now. People without phones can't get in at all.
Want to have your kids in a sport, a choir, or any other activity? The scheduling is done via app.
Party invitations? "Let's hang out tomorrow?" All by app.
Parents must weigh the relative risks of complete social isolation and frequent PUBLIC humiliation vs the harms of a phone. I held out as long as I could,longer than anyone else I knew. Caved at 14.
Thank you. This is reality for parents. It's also reality for jobs, for every part of daily life now. As you say, you hold out as long as you can. The next thing is the battle to keep kids off their phones. It's a battle parents are losing, and I really don't want to judge them for that. As you say, those in power have made it impossible to live within society and not be an outcast without giving in to these devices.
Your comments really hit home as a fellow parent. I have had to be comfortable with being different, outcast, rebel...etc. It boils down for me to taking a stand. And also having your children be part of that. That is a major reason for pulling my children out of school. What you describe is what we experienced in kindergarten. They wanted my son on an ipad. At first grade, I had to have a meeting with the principal because I was the lone hold out. I asked that my son be able to complete his work with pen and paper. All I can say is that living through the Covid tyranny without wearing a mask has armored me against the ridicule and societal disapproval of not giving in to letting your kids have cell phones. So pray for me because my son is still 12 and we have more years to go.
I will pray for you. You are not alone in your struggle. Defying the Covid mandates made warriors out of many parents. There is no end to people looking at you like you are crazy when you go against the crowd.
Thank you Karen!!
At least you "held out" and dealt with arising issues as rationally as circumstances allowed. So many parents consider this to be "The Age of Entitlement" that allows kids to disrespectfully demand solutions to their wants. Materialism and un-principled commercialism has created the politics of envy.
I don’t think I want to read the scary version.
Ugh, I know.
It's like crack cocaine. It needs to be banned. It's pure evil.
Excellent essay to bring awareness to these tech perils, and the need for reconnecting with our creator vs. worshipping false idols.
It's interesting (and a little disconcerting) that in all the time I've been a subscriber, your emails have always come directly into my Inbox. However this email went into the Junk folder. First time that's happened. I wonder if it was the subject matter ...
Thank-you again for this. Children from that generation are especially "entitled" when they use AI but as you said, their behavior in this direction is increasingly awful. It is one thing to begin to think independently, you want that for your children, but remember when we were kids... "Children should be seen and not heard." ...and of course for you and me it is not literal however, all humans should show respect to others and children to adults... well, I'm still not good with children addressing adults by their first names without "Mr" "Mrs" "Auntie" etc.
Yep. As I said in another comment, children are indoctrinated in school and online to disrespect their parents, to be their own little boss. To think words don't matter, meanings can be changed, and promises can be broken. A kid is allowed to say anything, make any sort of claim, if it helps them feel better about themselves, no matter if it's true or not. It's all about feelings. Reason is of no value. Truth is offensive because it often hurts. Nobody should feel bad about themselves. Sadly, the more children are fed these lies, the worse they actually DO feel. They have no emotional or mental resilience.
omgosh. That perfectly describes someone with whom I am struggling and upon whom I am trying to shed light. They simply cannot hear. It is as if I am talking to a cat. No, worse.
You stole my essay idea
Ha-ha, you should still write it. There is always room for more on this topic.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
frightenin'!--had no idea 'bout these custom "companions" yeesh, that first scenario skeered me no end! so we recently know a fambly that was askin' me 'bout homeschooling CUZ their 11 year old was cuttin' herself per peer pressure an' some kind of "online" thing even the parents didn't understand an' no amount of meds (yep I know) or "psychiatric care" includin' time spent in hoss-spit-all has fixed it. I suggested they take away the phone (not just limit it) an' mentioned that fewer homeschoolers are phone-addicted. all this gender stuff is also AI/Chatbot whatever underpinned too... An' yer right, parents have no idear what their kids are doin'--
When my younger one got inta a competitive summer musical theater program she was nearly overcome with tears learnin' nearly all of the girls there were all (basically) "ho's"--a world my girl had never seen but these kids were hookin' up at the university hostin' the program an' braggin' 'bout their "kinky" sexual exploits an' multiple partners an' we debated pullin' her out--I complained to the program organizers askin' JUST that these kids not share this info in educational spaces where others might hear 'em--like the lunch room, classroom, changing room, etc but basically they shouted "free speech" back at me (porno is not free speech in all cases but schools have a cut out for porn!)--anywho, my kid stuck it out, found a nice homeschooled friend in an'nuther program and after many nights in tears on the phone with me callin' home--we navigated the situation an' it turned out okay--but see these other girls were the "norm" (porn/norm)--what'll become of 'em? Funny story re yer mentioning the parents think they are home/safe... I imagined on the recital day at the end I'd be seein' a lotta young parents / MILF mamas pardon mah french, "stacked" gym daddies b/c I could not IMAGINE that kids this sexed-up would have anything but reality-teevee-influence parents. Golly I was surprised--they were like the most normal lookin' modestly dressed middle aged parents I'd ever seen--I was shocked.
I really think they are livin' in their parent bubbles an' do not know what their kids are doin' (or if I daresay) planning! They do this stuff thru apps... (I only allow my girls dumb phones no apps an' even limit textin'...) It's brutal out there! Lots even I don't know ('cept the instinct ta kick it all in the trash this stuff) Thanks fer lettin' us in on JUST how dark it gits...
I spent most of the period from my mid-teens to my mid-thirties in cycles of deep depression and burnout, followed by somewhat better (but shorter) periods. Eventually, I was diagnosed autistic, which explained a lot. I got engaged the same year, which has also done wonders for my mental health.
I spent a lot of time in my depressed years online, blogging. It was a way of making friends, as, being autistic and socially anxious, I struggled with making in-person friendships. In retrospect, there might have been better things for me to do, but at least it was some kind of interpersonal contact, even if long-distance and sometimes one-sided.
I worry about what might have happened if I’d lived in the world of AI girlfriends. It sounds quite horrific and easy to get sucked into, particularly for autistic teenagers with poor social skills. A black hole they might never emerge from.
My wife and I are hoping to start a family and are already trying to cut down our screen time. We don’t want our kids online a lot, or at all until secondary school, and we want to set a good example. Plus, I feel that boredom has become a precious freedom, strange though that sounds. Not having things to do gives me time to think or just to be present in the world. As Orthodox Jews, we also don’t use screens on the Sabbath, which is precious to me, although my wife finds it harder (not being without screens, but coming back to a pile of work emails afterwards; I’m fortunate that my job isn’t like that).
The War On The Child: Battlefront “Real vs. Proxy AI”
https://khmezek.substack.com/p/the-lost-girls-and-boys
Having missed the anti-social signals that Sewell would have emitted before his suicide, his parents now choose to absolve their lack of parental responsibilities by suing the tech company creator of Dany. Where were they when Sewell was growing up? Did they ever lovingly interact with him- child of their own flesh and blood? Were they so lax in their observance that they did not care that the .45 pistol was not where it should have been? Or were they totally distracted with their own play things? The tragedy is that Sewell's parents could not see the tragedy that was to consume their own son - and now they think they are entitled to $$$$s that will resolve their grief and clear their conscience. Tragic!!!