A stereotype about Generation Z is that they are supposed to be iPad kids. Some representatives of the generation have had enough of this.
What are iPad kids? iPad kids is a colloquial term for children who grow up or have grown up with a tablet. They were put in front of the device at a young age, and it is said to have shaped their lives and behavior.
For example, these children are said to have a constant focus on a screen, even when they are in public places like restaurants or playgrounds. Furthermore, iPad kids are said to not want to be separated from their devices and may become upset if their tablet is taken away.
Consequences could include a lack of imagination, less mindfulness, or general social skills. However, the actual long-term effects of high screen time have not yet been researched.
‘Yes, we remember’
On Reddit, user jordynrose2 posted a meme about which devices Gen Z really grew up with, even though they are told they grew up with smartphones and tablets. He writes, “I’m tired of hearing again and again that we had iPads as kids – we absolutely did not. As if 2005-2010 were ancient history – yes, we remember.”
The meme features various devices, including the Nintendo DS, the Wii, and two older models of PC and laptop. The Nintendo DS and the Wii were released in 2004 and 2006, exactly when Gen Z was a child and played with these devices instead of tablets. The first iPad came out in 2010, which was “too late” for the entire Gen Z to be iPad kids.
The problem seems to be the wide range of years in which Gen Z was born: 1995-2010. While those born between 1995 and 2005 likely did not grow up with a tablet as a toddler simply because it did not exist yet, children born from 2006 onwards may have been more likely to have grown up with one. However, it must be assumed that they received a tablet directly as toddlers.
So who are really the iPad kids? In fact, it is said that the Alpha generation, the generation following Gen Z, is the real iPad kids
. Gen Z is even the generation that criticizes the parents of Gen Alpha the most for allowing such things (via Business Insider).
Generation Z is already too old to have grown up with tablets since childhood. In fact, some are already old enough to be bosses in companies. However, this brings other problems: Generation Z has become bosses, and the first thing they do is complain about how young people work
