Internet: A Kid’s First Drug

iPad Kids as a Product of Internet Addiction

Written by: Julianne Chloe D. Bulaclac

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As I was scrolling through TikTok, I passed by a video of a person imitating a so-called iPad kid. Without letting go of his tablet, he weirdly moved around the couch and ate food messily. I laughed so hard. It reminded me of my younger sister, who once acted the same, and my younger cousin, who still is an iPad kid to this day. However, as I delved more into the concept of iPad kids, I realized it was more than just acting funny and messy but was a concern to a kid's behavior and development.

TikTok users created the term "iPad kid" to describe young children often seen in front of their iPads or tablets with food-stained fingers, fingerprint or food-covered devices, and awkward social behaviors (Leiby, 2022). When their device gets taken away, they cry, rage, or throw a fit until someone gives the gadget back. Some may think such reactions are a normal response at a young age; however, as it causes increased screen time, doctors and other health professionals say otherwise.

According to Cross (2021), "Excessive screen time may inhibit a child's ability to observe and experience the typical everyday activities they need to engage with to learn about the world, leading to a kind of "tunnel vision," which can be detrimental to overall development." It causes problems such as hindered social skills, anger issues, depression, obesity, and sleep disorders (Leiby, 2022; Purchase, 2022). With all these, many beg the question, "Where does their obsession with technology even come from?"

The primary suspect is the visual and auditory experience gained from watching videos like Cocomelon or playing games such as Roblox. For a more scientific basis, Kneteman (2020) explained screens could trigger the release of dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter with which pleasure is associated, and cause a rush through impressive graphics and addicting music. When seized, negative attitudes like irritability can happen as the dopamine release that stimulates joy and satisfaction also halts (Kneteman, 2020).

In my opinion, iPad kids are a reflection of poor parenting. It is a must for parents to be hands-on in raising their children, especially when they are in their early developmental years. However, in the case of these iPad kids, their parents usually give them gadgets to avoid their child-rearing responsibilities. When they are too tired from work or simply lazy to entertain their kid, they use iPads as a solution, which may be effective at the moment but will take a negative toll in the long run. I also believe permissive parenting, wherein the parent is too lenient with rules in an attempt to appear as a friend rather than an authority figure, is not the way to go, as it results in children doing whatever they want without fear (Leiby, 2022).

While the internet has its advantages, it can also be a drug and give birth to digital addicts without proper control and supervision—such as how iPad kids became a product of internet addiction. Despite that, we should never shame a child for being one, as its issue is rooted in something more serious than what we see on the surface. Help and support toward healthy changes are what they need, which must begin in their own homes and from their parents themselves.