In modern times, attention spans are quickly dwindling. Many neuroscientists and learning experts indicate that adults—and children in particular—are finding it harder to focus due to the proliferation of screens and social media apps.
Even the online content the population is consuming is bite-sized, in the form of endless, scrollable short-form videos. According to many credible published studies, this can seriously hurt the cognitive development of kids. It raises the question: how do we deal with the rising epidemic of screen addiction?
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, once warned about the amount of time children spend staring at their screens. Comments from a 2023 interview with GQ should serve as a premonition for parents today who want to protect their kids from too much screen time. So, let’s explore what he had to say.
Tim Cook prioritizes human interaction over screen time
Cook is all in favor of limiting screen time for children. When the interviewer expressed his worry about his child being “obsessed” with his smartphone, Cook suggested that parents should set guidelines on how much time their children spend on digital devices.
“Kids are born digital—they’re digital kids now. And it is, I think, really important to set some guard rails around it,” he said.
He was of the notion that technology should be used judiciously, highlighting that it has many positive impacts, opening new avenues of learning and creative expression. But at the same time, taking breaks from screens is very important.
He summed up his argument by saying that if a person is more interested in looking at their phone than making eye contact, there is something fundamentally wrong.
“My philosophy is, if you’re looking at the phone more than you’re looking in somebody’s eyes, you’re doing the wrong thing,” Cook noted.
Cook also highlighted features like Screen Time on iOS that help users monitor and control their device usage, emphasizing mindful use of technology.
Related: Adam Mosseri Defends Instagram in Major Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
Landmark trial against social media companies kicks off in Los Angeles
Continuing the discussion on screen time, a major class-action lawsuit has been filed over the addictive nature of social media. The trial encompasses more than 1,600 plaintiffs—including over 350 families and more than 250 school districts—and will be argued before a jury in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The first case involves a 20-year-old woman who alleged in her lawsuit that social media companies’ design choices were deliberately made to increase addiction among children for profit. Adam Mosseri and Mark Zuckerberg have already testified in court.
The social media companies could face damages if found guilty. If the jury rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the companies could also be forced to make significant design changes to their platforms.
Also read: Mark Zuckerberg Cites Emails to Apple’s Tim Cook to Counter Teen Harm Allegations
