When Technology Becomes a Babysitter The Impact of Digital Technology on Children

When Technology Becomes a Babysitter The Impact of Digital Technology on Children By Camryn Bland Youth Columnist Technology is woven into nearly every aspect of modern life, from daily texting to virtual ELearn classes to social media. While technology itself is not always negative, one of its most damaging uses is seen with its constant use by young children. Over the past few years, children have begun using electronic devices at much younger ages, which has reached a troubling point. Many children grow up addicted and immersed in screens, forming digital dependencies before they can walk. Living in a digital world from such a young age can make technology feel impossible to step away from, creating an unbreakable bond. These children, who are practically raised by technology, are often referred to as “IPad Kids.” These are the children who cry when their devices get taken away, or throw a tantrum the moment they feel bored. Although these behaviors may be upsetting to see, they have become commonplace in our society. They are something so normalized, yet so new. These reactions are not simply bad behavior, however habits enforced by years of learning and a system set up for addiction. It is important to understand where this dependence comes from without placing blame on individual parents. Many parents turn to technology as a tool for education, entertainment, or daily survival in a chaotic household. It’s used to fill the busy moments and occupy kids while attention is placed elsewhere. Tablets and phones are readily available for caregivers to use, so it feels expected to use them to their fullpotential. In most cases, the use of technology in parenting isn’t a choice of neglect, but of care. It’s an easy solution when parents are working long hours or managing countless household responsibilities. It’s a result of parents doing their best, and of attempting to use the resources most prominent in our daily lives. A reliance on technology affects children in significant ways as they grow older. Prominent screen time is often linked to a shortened attention span, difficulty with information processing, problem solving, and weaker social skills. Instead of learning to share at lunch time, strengthening communication on the play ground, or utilising creativity when doing crafts, children scroll and text, missing out on countless life lessons. This leads to countless consequences, such as a struggle with face-to-face interactions, emotional regulation, and independent thinking. Additionally, it can be difficult for parents to monitor all the content their children consume. It’s easy for a child to be exposed to inappropriate or overwhelming material online, even with parental restrictions. Social media and the internet can be unpredictable, and content is impossible to control, making it difficult to trust young children with technology on their own. The progression of these issues is evident when I compare my childhood with that of my step-sister. Although I am only six years older than she is, her childhood reflects very different themes and aspects of technology. At the age of ten, I was talking to my friends, playing sports, and enjoying life care-free. To contrast, my step-sister,who is ten, spends most of her time glued to digital devices, whether that be an IPad, television, or borrowed cellphone. She is already attached to social media, spending her mornings scrolling on Youtube Shorts or TikTok, despite her lack of a personal cellphone. Her attention span is very short, and she is constantly bouncing from one activity to the next, unable to focus on one option. I may use the same devices now, however, the importance is the ages exposed. I had a childhood without this prominence of technology which was able to help me set boundaries with the digital world, which my step-sister may not have. As children grow older, the “iPad kid” behavior often transitions into what may now be called a “screen-ager.” Now teenagers, these individuals know nothing but technology, and are unable to disconnect as the years go by. Constant phone use, social media scrolling, and digital entertainment have become normalized, blending seamlessly into society. In 2026, technology is unavoidable, and the expectation of completely eliminating screens is unrealistic, at practically any age. However, this only highlights the importance of limits, especially with younger children. The use of technology can not continue to be an instinct for simplicity, but a conscious action paired with balance, offline activities, and healthy technology use. This is the only way to ensure future generations do not continue a legacy of digital addiction and electronic parenting. This is the only way to break the cycle of an “IPad Kid.”