Are kids too plugged in?

7th Grade? Many are in by 2nd grade. Are they too plugged in? No. What's the problem? People said this about Rock music. It's dangerous! It'll rot your brains!

My answer is yes the is many kids who replace social activities with talking on instant messenging clients and spending up to 8 hours straight on computers. The msn generation never tireing of relentless chatting lol's and lamo's with every other word. Talking to more and more strangers in a desperate attempt to feel less lonerly by reading text on a screen and looking at small display pictures.

The amount of time todays youth spend on computers in unhealthily wrong I speak from experience myself along with people I know who do nothing but "socialize" with others on a number of different chat clients conversation is becomign a lost art among people who talk more online than in real life.

Like all things, if it replaces actual face-to-face interaction with others you could easily be in direct contact with, that is bad.

I don't believe it's harmful at all. These children are communicating with multitudes of people, getting alternate opinions about things, they are writing, creating sentences, using their brains to form and express opinions. Just because they are not speaking to someone face to face, that doesn't mean they aren't getting a fulfilling experience out of it!

I think it's old fashioned for us adults to assume that this new means of communication if "bad for our kids". I'm sure the telephone was considered bad for previous generations as well.

I am. I am plugged in. Wasting my time online, when I should be asleep or writing that German essay. It's true, kids today (I'm 17) are totally plugged in. From PC to iPod to Smartphone!

i got plugged in like back when starcraft and hl1 was first released.

has anybody studied the correlation between the rate at which kids spend more and more time 'plugged in' (and therefore less physically active) and the rising rates of childhood obesity?... because that's the only danger i can see.

I think that if kids want to spend more time "plugged in" and spend less time doing their work, then they will see consequences and then learn from the consequences. I think you just have to let them do it. I don't think that there is anything less "good" about talking on the phone or IM in relation to talking in person. People have to adapt and many aren't willing to.

because that's the only danger i can see.

Obesity, dark circles, eye-strain, drop in immunity, weakness, tiredness, bad eating habits, paleness etc.
I realized something was askew with me sitting in front of my LCD all day and made a decision that I'll never regret. I go for walks, go swimming, get out of the house and go anywhere, visit friends and relatives - just take big breaks. Works for me really well. Also, I try (hard) and avoid sitting on the comp. after 8pm, that's what really f*s ur eyes. Oh! Also drink carrot juice - helps a lot!

Simran, i think that's good advice - however being plugged in can refer to things other than being on the computer all day. (such as using an i-pod or playing a video game on the tv or a psp)...

i like the idea that some of the 'plugged in' stuff is now portable - maybe it'll encourage kids to get out and move while being plugged in.... maybe it doesn't have to be one against the other. hmm...

(suppose that means i just backed up from my earlier question, didn't i?)

The iPod is a good example of something that could encourage being active and running, etc.

The iPod is a good example of something that could encourage being active and running, etc.

You think kids are going to run around with their iPods? I do on the treadmill, but still... they're more likely to sit on their couch and watch Desperate Housewives.

You think kids are going to run around with their iPods? I do on the treadmill, but still... they're more likely to sit on their couch and watch Desperate Housewives.

Sure. I used to do it with a disc-man, and before that a walkman. Kids are definitely into music these days - and it's difficult to sit in front of a tv and pay attention to if you're listening to music... putting that music on something ultra-portable means they can take it with them wherever they go....

i have an 18 year old brother who's rarely at home, because he's going to shows and going out with friends most of the time. while i would say that he needs more exercise than he's probably getting, i would also say that he is getting more activity now than he was a few years ago (during which time he was one of those kids sitting in front of a computer all the time).... and he does now have an mp3 player. ;)