The Digital Childhood Open the app

Context · Social Media

Social media feeds have no end by design, the infinite scroll removes the natural stopping point, and your child is not weak for failing to stop, because the app was built to keep that from happening.

Why this matters for your kid

Every app works like a slot machine: you keep scrolling because every so often something good shows up and you never know when, and that is what makes it almost impossible for a child to stop on their own, even when they want to.

What your child experiences

Kids do not experience scrolling as a choice, and "I will watch one video" becomes "I have been here for an hour" without any conscious decision in between.

What to watch for

Watch for irritability when the phone is taken away, and difficulty engaging with slower activities. If your kid says "I'm bored" the second they are without a device, that is the reward loop talking, not their personality.

Calm guidance for raising kids in a digital world.

Open The Digital Childhood