Credits: Social Media
Millennials are being blamed for raising ‘iPad kids’ as studies echo Gen Z’s concern
Millennials and Gen Z are strongly divided by an ongoing debate on TikTok about raising ‘iPad kids’ as several studies alarm parents about the impact of excessive time screen on Gen Alpha.
Not all millennials think exposing the next generation to gadgets excessively is an issue, as they have used their own experiences from the past to defend the latest trend. Some ’90s kids argue they grew up playing a lot of video games or watching television – so how is letting their children use iPads or smartphones any different?. However, the results derived from scientific studies offer a different perspective.
What are ‘iPad kids’ and why is the trend concerning?
‘iPad Kids’ is the term used to refer to children belonging to the current generation who spend a lot of time on gadgets and it doesn’t have to be only an iPad.
Essentially, there is no restriction on the amount of time they spend exposed to digital screens and it is often practiced by parents unable to spend enough time with their kids.
Not only are iPad kids known for being emotionally unavailable and too hooked to their screens, but studies link excessive screen time to poorer sleeping habits and negative impacts on childhood development.
Furthermore, TikTok users have raised concerns about gadgets being used to shut children up when adults around them do not want to interact with them. That is despite the importance of children observing facial expressions during conversations to identify different human emotions, as noted by a study from the University of California
Gen Z, comparatively younger than millennials, have used their creepy experiences with strangers online to bring more awareness to the issue, which is rampant in the digital world, especially among kids.
While it is yet to be determined how much screen time is too much for Gen Alphas, parents are recommended to restrict their children from using gadgets as much as possible and encourage them to interact with real humans.
Gen Z and Millennials are at war on TikTok
Most millennials on TikTok argue Gen Z has no right to blame them for poor parenting because they lack experience in it. But to think of it, most Gen Z are of children-bearing age too, and appear to have a completely opposing opinion about allowing their children unrestricted screen time.
Millennials on the video-sharing platform have defended themselves by blaming their exhausting lifestyle for the lack of quality time with their children, which they compensate for with digital screens.
And some have argued that they grew up watching a lot of television in the ’90s when fancy gadgets weren’t invented, so letting their children consume media via iPad or smartphones isn’t a big deal.
One user opined “You have to sit down in a specific place to watch T.V., you don’t choose what you watch and it’s not made to be as addicting as screens”
“As long as parents only allow them to watch a single episode and dont allow them to binge watch 3. Then its similar addictive behavior,” argued one millennial.
Another user added: “As a Gen Z parent we have a leap pad! We do all kinds of leapfrog activities, flashcards, and playing pretend. 2 hours of screen time MAX.”
“It confuses me when people say ‘youre not a parent’, you dont need to be a parent to be related to what goes on with children and teaching them,” shared a Gen Z.
Speaking on behalf of millennials, one user said: “Gen Z mom here. Millennials had almost no support from grandparents while being expected to have both parents work full time and didnt have as much.”
