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I spent an enormous amount of time on my computer as a kid, and I credit that time with giving me the superpowers later in life that accelerated my career. I ha

I spent an enormous amount of time on my computer as a kid, and I credit that time with giving me the superpowers later in life that accelerated my career. I had a decade-long head start on many of my peers. So I am hugely biased that "hey, I turned out fine. No big deal". However, seeing my own kids' behavior even when I heavily restrict their screen time makes me question that. When their time is up they wail and moan and yell in a way that goes well beyond the usual kind of complaining kids do. I tightly control the apps that my kids are allowed to use and limit their time (thanks to iOS screen time). In the times when I've taken away iPads as punishment for extended periods, my kids' moods have improved. The amount of arguing has gone down. Their behavior is better. It's inescapable that these things alter them in some way. This is without social media even! I genuinely don't know what the right answer is. On one hand, they have this amazing machine that is a gateway to all sorts of learning. It's almost like we've stepped into the world of "Diamond Age". On the other hand, it makes them turn into borderline sociopaths, even when they use it for short periods of time. The addictive effect is real too, and that is also frightening. If given the choice between anything and iPad time, iPad time wins hands-down 100% of the time. The human race has entered a whole new unexplored territory.

SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
Let’s be honest it was totally different for most of us. Even older millennials here remember life before the internet. If the internet existed at all for people here it was ICQ or MSN, some home town ISP, and grainy playboy pics someone uploaded to a fan site. Not what the internet resembles today. I agree with you, my screen time strongly influenced me as a programmer and the try-it-see-what-happens logic I find many people lack. I just don’t think it’s comparable to zoning out on Yahoo Kids for hours.
- therealx 8y ago
  I mean I learned to program and all that but I also sat and played Starcraft/CS/etc for way too many hours. I think I received skills from gaming as well, and it didn't make me a violent/not well rounded/<insert negative here> adult.
Fellshard 8y ago
Perhaps this is an indication of the types of software in use? As kids, learning to use a computer meant working rather closer to the OS, and intrinsically learning diagnosis patterns and tooling. A smartphone or tablet is not at all the same kind of beast, with most of the mechanics and internals being abstracted - a triumph of a more humanized design, to be sure, but also constraining the direct utility of 'knowing how to use electronic devices' in the same way as it used to. Furthermore, the intentionally gamified and design-for-addiction principles many apps use is significantly more direct than most apps or games from that older period as well.
therealx 8y ago
I have a similar origin storyy, however, I Ieel like I remember my Mom mentioning the same improvements when I was restricted from screen time, despite the fact that that time was spent reading RFCs or learning some component.

SlowRobotAhead 8y ago

Let’s be honest it was totally different for most of us. Even older millennials here remember life before the internet. If the internet existed at all for people here it was ICQ or MSN, some home town ISP, and grainy playboy pics someone uploaded to a fan site. Not what the internet resembles today. I agree with you, my screen time strongly influenced me as a programmer and the try-it-see-what-happens logic I find many people lack. I just don’t think it’s comparable to zoning out on Yahoo Kids for hours.

therealx 8y ago
I mean I learned to program and all that but I also sat and played Starcraft/CS/etc for way too many hours. I think I received skills from gaming as well, and it didn't make me a violent/not well rounded/<insert negative here> adult.

Fellshard 8y ago

Perhaps this is an indication of the types of software in use? As kids, learning to use a computer meant working rather closer to the OS, and intrinsically learning diagnosis patterns and tooling. A smartphone or tablet is not at all the same kind of beast, with most of the mechanics and internals being abstracted - a triumph of a more humanized design, to be sure, but also constraining the direct utility of 'knowing how to use electronic devices' in the same way as it used to. Furthermore, the intentionally gamified and design-for-addiction principles many apps use is significantly more direct than most apps or games from that older period as well.

therealx 8y ago

I have a similar origin storyy, however, I Ieel like I remember my Mom mentioning the same improvements when I was restricted from screen time, despite the fact that that time was spent reading RFCs or learning some component.