The youngest generation, Gen-Alpha, is being raised by virtual babysitters. The rise of the “iPad kid” is becoming a nightmare for parents and teachers alike. Children under 13 are more attached to screens than ever before and it is causing serious behavioral issues. 

From a parents point of view a quiet dinner, or an afternoon of peace might be worth a few hours of iPad time. Older generations have struggled with screen addiction and the effects of social media on youth is well documented. Screen addictions are not actually addictions to your screen, but to the dopamine virtual stimulation provides your brain. For young children to be constantly stimulated with games and videos, a dopamine addiction is quite literally rotting their brains. 

According to a study by CommonSenseMedia, a website for family screen time health, “...nearly 80% of children have access to an iPad or other type of tablet.” The problem with tablets is not in the screens themselves, but in the way they are used. Tablets are used by parents as babysitters, given to their child when they’re acting out or bored. This strategy of parenting is causing a lack of other coping skills in children and an inability to be bored. A study by Melbourne Child Psychology states that, “Boredom gives children an inner quiet that helps with imagination and self-awareness.” Without learning to be bored, children’s creativity is stunted and it is more difficult to learn.

Many teachers have taken to social media to plead for the constant screen time to end. Many complained of behavioral problems, such as lack of focus, struggles regulating emotion, and trouble being told no. These behaviors are consistent with the dopamine addiction attached to the iPad kids. However, in the digital age it’s almost impossible to escape our screens altogether, as hybrid learning, or learning partially online, has been on the rise since the global pandemic. The issue with iPad kids lies in the use of technology at home and the strategies used to avoid building a dependance on their screen.