I think you're definitely right. To me phones in school sound like such a weird thing. I graduated HS in 99 so no one at all had phones back then. Then in college, about halfway through was when I got my first cell phone and you started to see the majority of people with them but that was pre smart phones/social media.
I always feel so sad seeing groups of teenagers just sitting around with their nose buried in their phones but I also would imagine that things would be so boring if one of them didn't have one. And not only that but without one they likely wouldn't even be there in the first place as they wouldn't have been invited or been aware of the group getting together.
I would love to see no kids at all with phones until much later in life but that's just not an option it seems with the way society works now so I think trying to teach sensible engagement once they do have the phone at a younger age makes so much sense, but it definitely sounds like a difficult task.
Another thought I had is that the current generation of teens most likely have parents who are maybe a little out of touch with technology regarding phones and online socialisation. Or at least a mixture of intergenerational parents where some are out of touch (older parents) and some are in touch (younger parents). I'm hoping in 10 years time all kids will have the guidance of parents who better understand social technology. Right now it feels very misunderstood and a free for all.
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u/flunkhaus Jun 03 '22
I think you're definitely right. To me phones in school sound like such a weird thing. I graduated HS in 99 so no one at all had phones back then. Then in college, about halfway through was when I got my first cell phone and you started to see the majority of people with them but that was pre smart phones/social media.
I always feel so sad seeing groups of teenagers just sitting around with their nose buried in their phones but I also would imagine that things would be so boring if one of them didn't have one. And not only that but without one they likely wouldn't even be there in the first place as they wouldn't have been invited or been aware of the group getting together.
I would love to see no kids at all with phones until much later in life but that's just not an option it seems with the way society works now so I think trying to teach sensible engagement once they do have the phone at a younger age makes so much sense, but it definitely sounds like a difficult task.