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IMO, there's nothing going on here that hasn't been occurring for a number of years now. Technology always carries with it the capacity to improve relationships and personal growth, or hamper it. I've seen parents play video games with their kids and interact in wonderfully healthy ways. I've also seen Xbox, Playstation, etc. used as virtual babysitters because parents don't want to be 'bothered'. Same thing with videos in the car/minivan. I've seen some parents that throw on a video the second the car starts so that kids don't fuss. As someone who has put a lot of miles in cross country trips over the years, there is definitely a benefit to having something entertaining for the kids when you are 6 or 7 hours into a trip. At the same time, I'm never going to allow some movies to replace some great interaction like singing together, playing 'road games', 20 questions, etc.

This is ultimately on the parents, as they have ALL of the control. The very fact that people would expect Apple to address this just confirms that too many people have forgotten or abdicated their parental obligation. AND, in many cases, if you watch the parents, they are probably just as 'addicted' to their phones/tablets as their kids.

Often time that is true, however when you have a child who is shunned because he/she does not / cannot participate in what their social circles consider to be normal, then that child will both think and act like a child, and find a way to get what they believe to be beneficial even if that means lie/cheat/steal to get it , like a drug or other unhealthy habit, So you have children acting like children, and parents acting like parents, but an overwhelming position to the power of the parent to really do anything if the drive is there.

The argument is somewhat akin to tobacco use, we know it is bad for everyone, but we allow adults to make a choice, and have pretty stiff penalties for children who wander there, does it stop teen smoking? No, but it gives leverage to curb it. And with consenting adults I believe that is fine, your lungs, your life, your choice, with children, they are hurting themselves in ways we could have never dreamed of, people are keeping record of those things teenagers always do but never had to live with the consequences for ever. So if a tobacco company want to allow your kids to smoke at school, on a buss, any public place they were not directly under you control, would you be a bad parent for not being the stronger apposing force and you kid ends up addicted to cigarettes?

As I have said there is no fix, this is part parenting, part tech companies assisting parents in that endeavor, part luck, and a whole lot of praying. Apple/google/Facebook/twitter/Instagram should not be raising our kids, but explain how one can restrict their influence, or even properly guide through it under the current set of tools?

Lots of parents do not have this problem, and they think it is because they are great parents, but if you have ever been to a teen addiction center, you will see lots of good parents there too, albeit not all, but proof positive that this is not just a parenting problem.
 
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Weird. My sons never really had any and they're 27 and 20. Maybe it's the courses my daughter is taking, but it's weird. I cannot figure out why anyone thinks this is okay. I do not typically have weekend or holiday work that is required for my JOB. Not to say I've never done any work on a weekend or holiday for a project or campaign I'm with, but it's not the norm.

The excuse my school gave was "because at work, you'll have to put in over time". I don't think I've ever worked during my vacation time. Decent employers wouldn't expect you to, either. Of course, depending on your job, weekend work can be occasionally necessary, but its definitely not the norm. Schools are / were so out of touch with reality.

When I refer to "school", I refer to school as up to the age of 16 - mandatory education.
 
Weird. My sons never really had any and they're 27 and 20. Maybe it's the courses my daughter is taking, but it's weird. I cannot figure out why anyone thinks this is okay. I do not typically have weekend or holiday work that is required for my JOB. Not to say I've never done any work on a weekend or holiday for a project or campaign I'm with, but it's not the norm.

Depends on the classes you take. Regular level classes? I don't think I ever had any homework over the weekend. AP/honors usually had homework or some kind of project over the weekend. Usually the teachers tried to make our projects due before holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but it was possible to have some work over the break.
 



Apple should do more to reduce growing smartphone addiction among children, said two major investors on Monday (via USA Today). In an open letter to the tech giant, New York-based Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers' Retirement System wrote of their increasing concern about the effects of mobile devices and social media on youngsters, urging Apple to offer more tools and choices to help prevent harm.

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The letter cited several studies revealing the negative effects of smartphones and social media on children's mental and physical health. For example, one study found that 67 percent of over 2,300 teachers surveyed believe that the number of students who are negatively distracted by gadgets in the classroom is growing, while 75 percent say students' ability to focus on educational tasks has decreased.

In another study, eighth graders who are heavy users of social media were shown to have a 27 percent higher risk of depression, compared to children who exceed the average time spent playing sports, socializing with friends, or doing homework, all of whom have a much lower risk.

To counter the threat, the investors - who collectively control $2 billion worth of Apple shares - suggested that Apple set up an expert committee including child development specialists and make its information more available to researchers. The letter also proposed enhancing iOS and associated apps to give parents and guardians more resources to protect their children's wellbeing.

Article Link: Investors Urge Apple to Do More to Protect Children From Smartphone Addiction
 
Well in college most of the work is done outside of class, so that would make sense. They also generally aren't there to hold your hand, which teachers kind of are in high school. We just went to the computer lab for those kinds of days in high school, but I could see how laptops could make it easier.

I'm curious about your statement saying teachers want kids to use phones though. That makes no sense since you can easily cheat with a phone.

Well, they don't want them to use them for tests, obviously. And, they do have them put away their devices during tests. I'm speaking more of the concept of using them to check class pages and pull up slide decks, etc. I know that my daughter's teachers are heavily invested in having tons of stuff loaded online for them to pull down and view/use. If you don't have laptops out at the time, how else will you see this stuff unless it's via a smartphone? Then, of course, they can check their grades there all the time, too. So... there are a lot of ways, even if the teachers don't realize it, that they encourage smartphone use.
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Depends on the classes you take. Regular level classes? I don't think I ever had any homework over the weekend. AP/honors usually had homework or some kind of project over the weekend. Usually the teachers tried to make our projects due before holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but it was possible to have some work over the break.

See, I still think this is BS, though. It's like they want you to think you're in a college class, but college classes also do not specifically assign stuff that's due during school breaks, either. You may have an ongoing project and you may choose to work on it over a holiday, but college professors are not telling students they have stuff due during breaks. You may have stuff due on a Sunday night, but it was given a week in advance, minimum and you were welcome to complete it sooner.
 
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This interesting that One of the high profile companies which produce these products is hammered with responsibility for this issue. Why aren’t all mobile device makers pinned with this issue. Samsung being the largest maker of these devices has not been mentioned...and I am not defending any of these manufacturers, I just see the issue through eyes looking at fairness. It seems any time there are issues of Ethics, when dealing with mobile devices, Apple is hit first.
 
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What is unfortunate is Apple makes it almost impossible to limit children. Their out of box parent controls SUCK!

Third parties companies need to jump through hoops to build good products.

Its in Apple's best interests financially to make it a living hell to control their kids.

I'm constantly threatening my kids were going back to Android because I can at least control things more granular!

Tim
 
I agree with most people on here. This should not be the responsibility of Apple. Kids being on their cell phones too much is the parents fault for when the kids are at home. And the teacher's responsibility when the kids are in their classroom. Teachers should not allow their students to tap away on their phones during class sessions.

The whole automotive industry and smart phone makers should collaborate, and figure out a way to prevent the use of a drivers' cell phones while that person is driving. Maybe a system where the cars headlights will flash non-stop while the person is in motion and is on a call. That would make it more easy for police to identify these drivers on the road.

Or better yet, just have the car email metadata to the police during such transactions, and that person receive a "hefty fine" in the mail a few days later. That would be a great way for this country to pay for the decaying highway and bridge infrastructure across the nation. Have these "law-breaking-cell-phone-user-drivers" flip the bill for it all! Heaven knows there's plenty of them out there!

:) :) :) :) :)
 
Although we're an ios household, I decided to get my 4yr old an Amazon Kids Edition Fire for this very purpose. It has a ton of parental controls built in.

After you've set a password, you can restrict one or more of the following:

  • The Amazon store
  • Web browsing
  • Email, Contacts, and Calendar apps
  • Social network sharing
  • The camera
  • Specific content types (for example, Books or Apps)


You can also password protect one or more of the following:

  • Purchases from the Amazon stores on your device (for example, the Amazon Appstore)
  • Playing movies and TV shows from Amazon Video
  • Connecting to Wi-Fi
  • Enabling location services
 
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I was saying the other day.... technology like Facebook, is created by people with Aspegers, nerds with lack of social skills. They are translating their issues trough their creations. Someone who has a good social life is not behind a computer every day and much less creating software to "socialize". At the end with the excuse of "innovation" people got sucked into that world. For example, Steve Jobs was someone who rejected his own daughter, who left a path of conflicts behind him by pushing the envelope too hard on every one... do we need this iPhones at the end? We don't need tons of apps they carry or the high prices. Technology divided people, no one is "together". How many people went to your last birthday? more or less? You probable were alone.
 
The issue is that with technology being what it is today, any device can be resurrected even without a base phone service, have apps installed, and be virtually limitless use without a parent even knowing it was done, much less how. I am a software developer, and had an issue with a daughter that went through this phase. I could take them away, she would just come home with a different one from school, cell cards “by the minute” are everywhere, and even the school faculty has expressed to us it is a problem they have little to no control over. So that becomes a fine line, that on one hand I agree it is the parents right and duty to parent, however the means by which to do that are very ambiguous when you have something like parental controls, and the hottest app is “Disable parent controls” or “VPN around your home/school firewall filters”, etc… Children need time to be children, to disconnect from an already over pressuring environment that the social media / app / always connected world has brought into our lives. Vis a vis there Is no harm in my opinion in tech companies trying to put the good foot forward and provide a better set of options on the off chance the kid does have a parent who cares and is looking for better (and functional) options. Their responsibility, no, but a wise choice to secure a future of their product, yes, therefore of interest to the investors.
Wow, thanks for sharing that. I’ve not seen that scenario myself, where the kids can come home with devices the parents haven’t purchased. That just hasn’t come up, yet. I suppose it could be a problem in the larger high school. Our middle school is very small and nothing gets past the teachers and there’s no time or privacy during the day for kids to get up to any mischief.

I’m fortunate in being able to be always around and we all gravitate together in either the kitchen, dining room or family room when everyone is home. Everyone is allowed their privacy. We just tend to sit together. I hope that doesn’t change when the high school years are upon us. Thanks for the warning!
 
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1) It takes a village to raise a child.
2) Do you think most parent's understand video game or internet addiction?
3) Since Apple created this device, it's their job to fix the problems said device causes. Or at least minimize it.

A village to raise a child.. and some consider world overpopulation the earth's biggest threat.

So you buy their products but expect Apple, a business, to make your children conscious.. a company exploiting profit margins would care about kids addicted to their products? In addition to this, the same people throwing cash at stocks now request this? *grabs popcorn*

Maybe one should look inside as a parent and try to face the responsibility within.
 
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What is unfortunate is Apple makes it almost impossible to limit children. Their out of box parent controls SUCK!

Third parties companies need to jump through hoops to build good products.

Its in Apple's best interests financially to make it a living hell to control their kids.

I'm constantly threatening my kids were going back to Android because I can at least control things more granular!

Tim

I know that all too well, I did put my kids on android, and custom ROMs at that, so I could do things like enforce a firewall, WIFI policy enforcement so my content filter in my firewall at home was not just wasted as they *jump to the neighbors WIFI* Now yes all of this is nor perfect, but that is one power we have as parents, is to obtain knowledge, and have a platform we can actually use it on. Success rate was two out of three if you look at prevention, and three out of three if you look at the fact my daughter has sense come back and thanked me for being as diligent as I was, and that she wishes she would have backed off the fight more often than not because she is not please with what she fought so hard for nowadays.

When constantly connected mobile devices have the power to overthrow governments, parents are a small hurdle...

All I would ask apple for is tools to better do my job, not do it for me.
 
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is the parents job for sure. I believe steve jobs before he even release the iphone noticed how addicting the smartphone can be and banned his kids from owning one.
 
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This is much like automobile makers needing to do more to stop drunk drivers, hit and runs, speeding, accidents etc. Like an earlier poster said the "vessel" is not the problem. All of the most popular apps are of no value unless the goal is to create and read mindless noise. They won't make you smarter or knowledgeable or well read or a better photographer. The goal of all the apps mentioned in the article are to get likes and follows.
 
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Sounds like blaming the fork because your kids are fat.

Please put some technical controls on our spoons and forks because we are unable to control ourselves or our kids.

I agree this is a problem and is abused, and btw, technical controls being available aren't bad, but at home one can just control device access at the router if one can't control the kids. Or require devices be put away at X time for the night.
 
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Is it an addition? or the fact the iPhone does so many jobs now it just looks like one.

Think back to when you were a child (I'm 35) so in the late 80's and 90s i had a TV in my bedroom , an Atari ST, a gameboy, a video recorder, books, and a HiFi.

Now compare

Listen to Music? 90s : Use HiFi or Walkman. Now : Use iPhone
Read a book or find out facts? 90s : Read a paper book. Now : Use an iPhone (Kindle, or websites for info)
Play Games? 90s : Play on Gameboy. Now : Use iPhone
Watch TV? 90s : Watch an actual TV . Now : Use iPhone to watch YouTube

So in the past it did not look addictive because we had to use different devices, now we just use one. I would say there is 1 addiction, and thats Social Media and thats what is filling in the void when the iPhone is not being used for Music, Games, or Video.
 
If you see kids on smartphones and tablets nowadays, it's on some next level ****.

They are kids, they don't know the difference between responsible usage and addiction.

EDIT: I see many posts saying it is all down to the parents. Of course, parents have to be more responsible. But what about once the kid is older? Or out of sight? It could be to/from/at school. It could be on a sleepover. It could be "doing homework".

You can't police your child 24/7 or you end up like the recent Black Mirror episode "ArkAngel".

This is dialogue about enabling parents to remotely control limits on WiFi, data, certain app usage... Surely that's a good thing to talk about, especially when the MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN is at stake.


How about the parent not giving them a smart phone? That would also solve a lot of these issues. It is ok for a child to be a child and not need a smart phone. I also understand about peer pressure, and how every other kid has one, why can't I, argument also. It comes down to parents need to stop giving in to what their kids want, and give kids what they need.
 
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This is so true, I have noticed this also with adults. It has affected my family greatly. When we go to family gatherings everyone is on their phones and it seems like we don't talk much.

Have everyone take out their phones. Pass each to the person to the left. When the meal is over, repeat in opposite direction. Phone free events should be the new normal.
 
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