THE INTERNET IS MAKING ME HATE MY LITTLE COUSINS

So I just read this article about what what British Kids did before the internet. Thankfully I can recognize most of these activities as some that took part in as a child as well; but what’s stuck in my mind is HOW DOES THE INTERNET HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE WHAT AN ENTIRE GENERATION DOES WITH THEIR FREE TIME???

To think that my precious memories of digging up worms in my backyard or having bicycle races with the other kids in my neighborhood and exploring the forbidden ravine behind my house are childhood experiences that my little cousins will never be able to possess.

Like yes it’s understandable that sometimes kids would rather just play games on their iPad under the covers for the entire weekend but what I find the most depressing is the apps that make you do activities that you could actually do in real life. Like when I went to visit my younger cousin, she was going crazy over this cookie game where you baked and designed your own cookie. WHY DIDN’T SHE JUST BAKE COOKIES IN REAL LIFE AT LEAST THEN SHE’D GET TO EAT THEM TOO BUT NOOO THIS APP WAS SO MUCH MORE FUN TO HER AND SHE COULDN’T EVEN EAT THE FRICKIN COOKIES. THAT’S THE ONLY GOOD PART OF BAKING.

Is it because people are just getting lazier and don’t want to put in the effort of physically baking cookies or is it that she actually believes a virtual cookie is better than a real cookie? Or maybe they’re just more options of ways to design a virtual cookie? But if all she wanted was to design a cookie then that raises questions like why not just do it in a drawing app or coloring app? Does she just not like real cookies? Who wouldn’t like real cookies? I don’t understand?

But that’s not the only app she was obsessed with, there was also a cake app, a dress app, a take care of this super cute dog app. SHE HAS A REAL DOG AND I HAVE NEVER, NOT ONCE, SEEN HER TAKE HER REAL DOG OUT FOR A WALK OR GIVE HIM A BATH OR GROOM HIM. 

This is becoming a real problem guys. 

Yes, the internet is great for getting people connected and yada yada but considering this article was targeted at a British audience, with all the examples relating to those people from only that place so it could hit close to home for them, yet most of us here have experienced the same type of games and activities and have similar childhood memories as those mentioned in the article, wouldn’t that mean we were already pretty connected? I think we all need to take a step back and see how the internet is going to change people’s real life experiences. Or better yet, erase the new generations’ real life experiences.