You Addict

Is it just me, or does it bother you when the first thing someone asks when they get somewhere is the wifi password?  Like, are you really that incapable of being without the internet for more than 5 minutes?

I definitely agree that this can be considered an addiction.  I know people that get super moody and have horrible sleep schedules because of their internet use.  I’ve even seen physical problems in the neck, shoulders and back caused by hunching over a screen all day long.

This is RIDICULOUS!!!!

It will be a gorgeous day out, but people stay stuffed up indoors on their device all day long, not noticing what a beautiful day it is.  Then once you get home from a glorious day out enjoying the sunshine (and actually doing something with your life), they’ll complain to you about their neck/shoulders/back hurting.

Like, noo reaallyy??  Your body hurts?  Hmmm I WONDER WHY!!  Poor you...NOT!
This is completely their own fault.  They bring it upon themselves.  Therefor, I have no sympathy. 

Anyways…

There was a comment made by one participant in the study, Melissa, that I thought was super important:

“He just turned four, but they got him an iPad. Like, which I don’t agree with. I think it’s so stupid, but he is always, always on it. He gets really defensive if you try to take it away or put boundaries on it or something like that.”

I agree with Melissa on so many levels.

1.    Four year olds should not be getting iPads as gifts.  They should be playing outside with their friends, riding bikes, playing soccer, road hockey, exploring, bug hunting, literally anything – as long as it’s not on a screen.

2.    By giving such a young kid something like an iPad, they are bound to get possessive.  They think they’re entitled to it; it’s their “toy” so they can do whatever they want with it.  And since basically every kid has some sort of technology now, they don’t learn to share like they would playing Lego.

3.    Ok, for real, what four year old is responsible enough to have an iPad?  I know more people, teenagers and adults, with shattered screens than I know with undamaged screens.  How is a four year old supposed to be better at taking care of their device than an adult??  It is bound to get dropped and have things (hello sticky fingers!) get all over it.  How is it not going to break?  Plus these things aren’t exactly cheap, so why do people trust little reckless humans with so much money?  I don’t get it.

4.    Kids enjoy playing on iPads.  This means that they aren’t going to want to stop, put it down, and do other things, even sleep.  This leads to even more problems with behavior and development.  Bad things will happen!

Now, all of this being instilled into a kid is undoubtedly going to turn into an even worse situation when the kid grows up.  It will be worse than teenagers today, and lots of them are thoroughly addicted.  Think about it, we will have a whole society of moody, sleep deprived, antisocial, internet addicts.

Also, kids are highly influenced by older siblings, etc.  Kids usually emulate what they see other people doing, especially people they look up to.  When they see them on their devices 24/7, they think that’s what they should do to be more like them.  When teens are addicted, it fosters the same addiction in kids.

P.I.U.

Problematic. Internet. Use.

Addiction to the internet.

This is a real problem.

People need to learn to unplug, interact in and with the real world, and actually experience and enjoy all the things life can offer.

Kill the addiction.