Yesterday my husband and I went out for Sunday lunch and opposite us sat a family consisting of a mother, father and two kids. The kids were aged around thirteen and fourteen respectively.
From the moment that we arrived the kids were busy on their cellphones. What they were doing exactly I have no idea but it seemed very interesting. The mother and the father accepted this as normal and they did not once ask the kids to put down their phones so that they can finish eating. The girl started eating with her one hand when her food arrived, while keeping the phone in the other. Her brother gobbled down his food as if it was the last food he would ever see and then grabbed his phone immediately after.
I'm not trying to judge them but certainly there is some problem with communication in this family. It bothers me that they were sitting eating lunch at the same table and none of them had any interest in having a proper conversation with each other. The parents seemed to be enjoying themselves, but the kids not so much. If children at these young ages do not have interest in their parents now, what is going to happen to these parents once they get old? Will they then still not be bothered?
Perhaps they will phone their parents once in a while, seeing that they are so in love with their phones. What saddens me most is that these people had all the time in the world, but they did not even bother to have a proper conversation with each other.
Technology is taking over so much in our lives that it is hard to even imagine our lives without it. We live in an age where we need to have cellphones and computers because everything around us revolves around technology.
When I grew up we did not even have computers. It just did not exist in South Africa. (And no I am not ancient yet) We had an Atari game console that we played, but it did not consume our whole lives. We still read books- real paper books an we still had imaginations. We played outside until late at night, without any worries, and when it became dark we knew that we had to go home, but our parents knew exactly where we were at all times.
We did not lie to our parents because we knew that we would get a slap or that we would be punished in some way. On the other hand, crime was less and it was safer. With the current crime rate in the our country it is not safe to have a child go out of the house without a cellphone, but on the other hand with today's phones kids have access to the internet and it is scary what goes on in the world of the internet.
Kids are exposed to so much technology and for them it might not be so scary to live in this age as they grew up in this environment. I lived in a time where technology started to develop and in some way I feel blessed that I have seen the development of technology where we are today from where we came, but on the other hand it scares me to even think where technology is going.
Is technology busy changing kids into idiots, that are so into themselves that they don't care about things like personal relationships, or is technology changing them into better human beings because they are staying on track with the latest technology?
What is your view on this?
We only got a computer in our house when i was 5 years old and I am really not old. I miss the times withou so much technology.
Our children are being opened up to so much bad and are made aware of to much of the things that had to be kept private. Some parents just raise their hands in the air and gave up, but that is the worst thing that could happen. (And we live in a farming community)
I love planning holidays to places where we have no signal at all. So we as a family can truly reconnect during the holiday. We always read books, play board games and mainly sit and talk about the things that matter.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It is wonderful to do all those things but when kids grow up they are so into themselves and it makes it difficult. We used to spent time playing cards etc and we had so much fun on our holidays and now kids are always just bored. It really irritates me so much...lol
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Then I am going to enjoy the times we have now to the fullest.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I have had similar questions too, with kids and phones and even adults.. It's really hard to throw judgements but for me, it is still the parents' or guardians' responsibility to control the usage of technology, yes it's scary indeed especially from what we see in the news about crimes with the help of technology. The ease on almost anything because of the internet. I have a 12 year old sister and it scares me a lot. How I need to constantly remind her to interact with people with real coversations and to be careful with what the internet feeds. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this, let's just hope everyone will get the message.. Have a nice day 💚
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you for your comment. I struggle to figure out if technology is a good or a bad thing...it is so confusing and there are so many positives and negatives that it actually balance each other out...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You're welcome.. I just relate to this so much. In my opinion, I don't think the question is if it is a good or a bad thing.. I agree it is confusing at times but as what they say, too much of anything is bad.. I think that is where the problem starts. When people start to forget priorities..
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Technology can't affect real human ties. When families already share mutual interests in which everyone one feels a part of the whole Technology would work for them bringing them closer to each others. But if there is a gap, miscommunication between family members or a void left in their children's lives technology will be used to fill this gap or void. in my point of view technology reveals how strong relationships are and break only weak ones.
When it comes to changing kids into idiots technology may and may not does this. It can be used as a tool for many things, it also can become an obsession when kids are completely taken by it rather than their real lives. Taking into consideration that if their lives were already properly filled they wouldn't have resorted to technology.
Thank you @giantbear.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yeah! The problem of disruption of communication due to excessive fascination with social networks and computer games really covers the world. Now a lot of people suffer from sociopathy. It is difficult for them to have a real conversation, to build real connections in the real world. The virtual world becomes a real home for them. I remember my youth without phones and computers. During the summer holidays we could not be found at home, we walked, talked, fell in love, sang songs by the fire. Now it disappears from the lives of teenagers. Even during the holidays they continue to sit at the monitor. This deprives them of many real successes and joys of life. It is unfortunate that progress has had a negative impact on many people in this regard.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It was so much easier in those times...thank you for the comment, I really appreciate your thoughtful answer.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think what we're really raising is a generation of apathetic NON sympathizers. Parents allow technology to babysit their kids, thereby destroying trust and natural affection. These kids think that they want to spend time with their phones and games, but what they really want is love and affection from their parents.
It's time for parents to set boundaries and limits instead of allowing their kids to do whatever they want. By spending real time with them parents can establish moral guidelines that their kids can follow.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very true. From very young, kids are allowed to watch videos on phones or tablets...the television has killed family time. I agree with you that parents should set boundaries but some of them are just comfortable and relieved that they don't have to do the parenting when kids can keep themselves busy. What is easier than to put in a dvd or switch the channel?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I see it a lot too .
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
To the question in your title, my Magic 8-Ball says:
Hi! I'm a bot, and this answer was posted automatically. Check this post out for more information.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Technology is interfering with the way we interact with others because we are allowing it to. When we sit down for meals whether it be at a restaurant, a friend's home or at our home the rule is no TV, radio, no Ipads, no tablets or cell phones during the meal. This is time for enjoying each other's company and the food. I have witnessed with my own eyes a family out for dinner texting each other at the table!
It is getting so that I don't enjoy going out for dinner or a movie because everyone around me is talking or taking selfies with their phones. I find it distracting. Do other folks find it annoying or is it only me?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Oh no you are not the only one that finds it annoying. We went to see a movie on Saturday and I was so irritated with kids and their phones in the movie. Watching videos after paying so much money to watch a movie. You know I even brought my whole class on to steemit to have them interact with others and held the reward in front of their noses but most of them are just too lazy to write as it is too much effort. I have a few still writing that actually saw the value in steemit but I often just feel like giving up on kids in general...but that is not the way I am...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes we are! But we don't mind that...when you buy a phone for your 7 old year boy that means you are making him an idiot...he will not want to enjoy moments with you, he will want you to buy him games on the phone..the subject is so long...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very true. Kids are kept busy these days with tablets and phones. Sad world we live in.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I couldn't agree more. Most kids nowadays has technology as their life, their worlds are circling around what technology gives & offers them. Now they try to forget personal relationships and at some point doesn't already know how to interact with people properly, sometimes won't at all. They turn to social network as an outlet on what they're going through, they forget that they have a family, parents who they can talk and open up to about anything. Tendency is, the family especially the parents are like strangers to these kind of kids. A lot is happening around social media, it is powerful and these kids mosyly turn to this sort on almost everything sad to say. I mean the innovation of technology greatly helps the evolution of the human mind but losing what we call a "personal touch" is really an utmost frustration. Excellent post @giantbear.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You are so right technology has a place for sure, but communication like we taught you, look someone in the eye and have a conversation is still the nicest. Very nice post.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It is sad to see children not talking and sharing with parents, perhaps this is the parents fault for not making them feel included into conversations, or discussing something of interest in what they enjoy.
Not an easy topic, since we were raised in a different time without TV or phones in our formative years, outdoors and friends were all we knew.
My sons on the other hand now in their mid-thirties, have had a computer in the home since they were about six and eight years old. Time was allotted to time on the computer, also divided between learning and gaming.
Currently when it is just the two of them they have huge debates over the latest gaming and design. We even debated how the gamer's are upset with crypto world grabbing their hardware for mining, making it more expensive for them to obtain gaming cards.
Parents (especially us older lot) need to reflect on what we would have done at that age had we been given the opportunity in technology, we need to see life through their eyes now @giantbear
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I echo your sentiments! I find the whole social media culture to very superficial. How can you truly bond with someone that you mostly have electronic contact with?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yet here we are, creating blog posts on a social network to earn money.
What is the difference between creating and consuming? Is there any?
I mean, imagine if the parents were bloggers. All they would do is try to take the perfect picture of their dish. It's the same problem - social disconnection. The successful bloggers and instagram people are showing only what is good in their life. That is, in my opinion, the main problem. We are massaged by the media with all the bling and happines of the successful, yet some of us may never get there, which makes your lifes look that much more miserable.
Now I'm not saying that blogging is a bad thing. I'm just saying that we should stay true and honest with ourselves and others.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes! We are raising a generation, of perhaps not complete idiots but in fact very helpless and dependable people. Weak minded and lazy, when they bump into life...
Well, you need only look at them roaming the streets and whining on social media, discussing their hurt feelings.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you for bringing attention to this. I read a book, Digital Cocaine and just took it out again to make some posts. Technology is making our kids dumb. It even causes early onset of Alzheimers. It is very scary and parents don't know that this is so bad for their kids and we too should switch off phones after a certain time.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit