I have been making a point of stowing my iPhone when Earl and I going out to dinner. By ‘stowing it’ I don’t mean I put my phone upside down on the table but still within eyesight. I put the phone in my pocket and try not to think about it while I’m enjoying spending time with my husband.
The other night we went to an outdoor eatery. I was looking around the restaurant when I noticed a family of four walk in. Mom and Dad had two toddlers in tow. The young ones appeared to be both less than three years old. There were various accoutrements coming along for the experience, things like diaper bags, booster seats, and the like. The hostess escorted the family to a corner table; the family got situated. When the booster seats were in place, both toddlers were strapped in and mom promptly put an iPad in front of each of them. Both iPads were in brightly colored cases with chunky carrying handles and the like. The toddlers were instantly mesmerized by the colorful images on the screens. Mom and Dad talked while the kids chomped on some Cheerios or equivalent from a cup and remained transfixed on the images flashing by on their respective iPads.
I found this sad.
Oftentimes in public I see kids practically being trained for dopamine hits when a family is out and about. I get that the parents need a break from time to time. I also get that I’m old fashioned about this sort of thing, but I’m fairly uncomfortable with the thought of the next generation being completely raised on iPad content. I equally feel bad when I see folks out walking their dogs while the dog does their thing without any human interaction, because the human is too busy playing with their phone to pay any mind to them.
Again, perhaps it’s because I’m old fashioned, but I feel like our electronic doodads, while absolutely necessary for this modern life that never brought us flying cars, have become smothering, distracting, and overwhelming.
I’m happy I keep my phone in my pocket when I’m out and about with my family.
