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>you are likely to understand my concern for privacy and personal integrity, I've given up on the high ideals I used to hold about (online) privacy (and anonym
by fdsafdsfdsa 4y ago
>you are likely to understand my concern for privacy and personal integrity,
I've given up on the high ideals I used to hold about (online) privacy (and anonymity). There's an argument that they, in some circumstances, are the antithesis of personal and public responsibility.
My current plan is that my kids will get tech when they can afford it themselves. I'm also dreading it, as more parents bow to the pressure and allow kids to have phones and tablets at an ever-younger age. I do understand the downsides of this, and also don't want my kids to be social pariahs.
Also - you role model what your kids will do. If you think it's ok to sit and scroll on your phone at every opportunity, so will your kids. If you game till the early hours, so will your kids.
FWIW both my wife and I gave up smartphones last year, and all "tech" in the house is banished to our home office. When a family computer becomes a necessity, it will be in a shared area.
- jstarfish 4y ago> I do understand the downsides of this, and also don't want my kids to be social pariahs. FWIW, they will more likely become pariahs (or suicidal) from a lapse in judgment involving said device.
- nemo1618 4y agoCan you talk more about giving up smartphones? That's a pretty radical move.
- intrasight 4y agoDid fine without one for my first 47 years, so I'm not sure how "radical" that really is. I couldn't be without while away from home. But do we really need them at home?
- nemo1618 4y agoYeah, that was my thought -- maybe just keep a separate smartphone in the car, and never bring it in the house? Seems like the only times you really "need" a smartphone are when you're out somewhere.
- fdsafdsfdsa 4y agoYou say "radical". I say "attempting to undo some of the damage of the past few years". Anyway, I've always had an independent streak, and never liked how my of my life was controlled through my phone by big tech. I've tried all of the typical steps - fully-FOSS phone (CyanogenMod), quitting social media, and leaving my phone in a different room at night than my bedroom (which was probably one of the single most helpful steps). The hardest thing to quit was Whatsapp - at least where I live (UK), it has come to dominate social organisation. I can only recommend this process, even if you don't make it all the way. I also appreciate that where I live, less of life has become dependent on smartphones and apps, and making these choices might have more sideffects on your life if you are somewhere like the US.