Are you raising your children on touchscreens?

children and technology – raising kids in the digital age

I listened to a recent interview about children and technology on The Oprah Podcast where she spoke with Jonathan Haidt, an American social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation. He believes that the combination of technological devices and overprotective parenting has fundamentally changed childhood—and led to a rise in mental health issues.

Haidt isn’t alone. In many parts of the world, experts are deeply concerned about the impact of children and technology on the next generation. They see where this is going, and it’s not good.

Children and adolescents are growing up increasingly disconnected from themselves and others. With so much time spent in virtual spaces, their core human qualities—empathy, critical thinking, creativity, and emotional connection—are fading. The result? A generation of emotionally detached adults, unable to form meaningful relationships, find fulfilling work, or even understand their own feelings. Instead, they become tools of the System: obedient, exhausted, and emotionally empty.

Do we really want that? I don’t think we do.

So why are we putting our children on this path?

Here’s what I think: we’re overwhelmed—physically and emotionally—by our daily routines. And that’s understandable. But it also forces us to ask: Why did we have children in the first place? Because what children need more than anything is time. Time with us. Time being loved.

But don’t feel guilty. It’s not too late. You can still reverse the situation.

The first step is to reorganize yourself—emotionally.

When we live in inner chaos, we can’t see reality clearly. And if we can’t see clearly, we can’t make changes. But once you do, you’ll start to find the time and energy your children need.

The second step is to understand why you had children.

Be radically honest with yourself. Was it for love, or for a sense of purpose? Was it to fulfill a societal expectation? Were you scared to chase your dreams and used parenting as a safe alternative?

Understanding your motives matters, because real love means helping someone grow and evolve. And most of us weren’t raised with that kind of love—we were programmed, often unknowingly, by family and society.

But here’s the thing: now you can choose to break that cycle. You have a family now, and your behavior as a parent matters. You can reprogram yourself—learn to love yourself—and, in doing so, raise children who are emotionally strong and grounded.

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt backs this up with some shocking data:

In the U.S., 40% of two-year-olds use iPads, and 48% of adolescents are online nearly all the time.

Let’s pause and reflect.

Key questions to ask yourself:

  • Are family bonds strong and real?
  • Do you engage in shared activities with your children?
  • Are you modeling healthy technology use?
  • Are you living “together apart” in the same home?
  • Is your home becoming a tech-fueled battleground?

These are not small questions. Excessive screen time can cause attention problems, reading difficulty, addiction, emotional withdrawal, and long-term mental health issues.

Children and technology are not a harmless mix.

We are witnessing the dehumanization of a generation—and we, the parents, are the only ones who can stop it. The System uses technology and media to condition behavior. Our children, if left unchecked, could become the new slaves of that System—obedient, disconnected, and easy to manipulate.

Haidt put it bluntly: “Humanity is getting less intelligent since 2012—exactly when everything became screen-based.”

Coincidence? Probably not.

Now imagine your children without the ability to think critically, understand emotions, or make reasoned choices. That’s not just their future—it’s ours, too.

But here’s the good news: it’s still possible to turn this around. You can give your kids a real childhood. A fun, engaging, messy, human one. You can help them grow into sane, healthy adults.

It all starts with you.

Take small steps every day to reorganize your life, emotionally and practically. In doing so, you give your children the greatest gift of all: a meaningful life in the real world.

If you’re ready to invest in your future—and your children’s—go to my website.