I've just seen the most depressing thing

I just spent a good part of my first INSET day listening to the usual safeguarding stuff..more and more of it is devoted to phone / internet related stuff every year. Everything from direct threats of cyber stalking and bullying, sextortion, upskirting, AI generated nudes, porn exposure (average first age is ten) to the less direct ones of addiction to dopamine, impact on focus etc. Anyone who thinks this is just pearl-clutching might want to look at some of the latest statistics.
There's a world of difference between using tech and apps to access Teams etc and allowing unfettered access to SM and internet.

It’s really sad @Havesomecommonsense .. I was in costa coffee yesterday and a mum was sat in there with her 2 children, the baby (under 18 months I’d guess) was watching an iPad.. it was age appropriate content BUT I really don’t think watching flashing screens is good for brain development… and I personally think in the not distant future the amount of children now with ADHD will be blamed on over stimulation by tech at young crucial development stages!

Is your DD 4 and “Parenting” a doll. 🤣. Surely no one is that controlling with a fully fledged adult, are they

I do have kids in secondary school, that's how I know what you're stating in not true. It's not opinion, it's fact. Schools inform parents, not children. My DCs secondary school has never once sent them communication to their phones in any way, shape or form. There's no way any school would expect children to organise their school life and just 'inform the parents'. I'll repeat it again, it would be utter carnage. How many pupils would forget to inform the parents, organise money etc. It doesn't happen. They may give them information to tell parents but this is always followed up with communication to the parents. Fact.

Like I said earlier- this guy carries around 2 smart phones, one for his 3 year old to use. So a separate phone for his 3 year old.

Your experience is completely different to mine. Not something I’ve found as common at all.

I know kids today are getting their own phones at younger and younger ages but to have your own smart phone and Instagram at 3, wow!

It’s not uncommon to have two phones?

Really?

So this man carries around 2 smart phones? And one is for a 3 year old to use with Instagram for her? You watched them the whole time to be able to note they didnt look at each other and to see the content of the phone. The only time you heard him speak was to say that he would be dropping her back off at her mum's after, thus conveniently providing the narrative for this story that he was a part time dad.

What the hell is a "left behind lady,"? And again, which actually cares if this specific example is true or not...the discussion is still valid...are phones causing parents to neglect their kids either by being distracted themselves and /or using them as an easy distraction too often.

An interesting point has been raised, to go along with the shift in discussion about phones as useful tools that we all use and schools use for apps .. absolutely they are, but it's possible to put software on kids phones that prevents them from downloading apps without parental permission so you can have the useful bit without the harmful bit. Until the kid is paying the bill, I say what goes on my teens' phones and how long they can have on them. It requires the parent to get a little bit tech savvy (but not much really, Google family is pretty intuitive) and put in just a touch of effort but it's perfectly possible. It's not a case of "oh well schools make them have phones so that's it, game over".

You've said for two days you wanted "a conversation" so this is conversation for you. It develops. It's not just about one left-behind lady constantly moaning about one dad for two days. I call bs on this thread anyway.

No! It is very much her business. It’s time people made a stand. It’s neglect!
Don’t bloody have children if you can’t dedicate the time to them.
The children are our future so it’s everyone’s business.

Funny to read all the defensive posters who obviously do the same... 'Let them parent their own way!' Very sad, indeed. Giving your child a phone and being on your own phone is NOT parenting, by the way.

Another one confusing their opinion with facts.

if you had kids in secondary, you would know. It's not carnage, parents have whatsapp groups, track the kids phone so know where the kids are exactly. It's pretty easy.

Kids don't organise, they inform. Not exactly the same is it.

Obviously, something is lacking in the education system. Perhaps the curriculum should be adjusted to include the needs of children and the art of conversation, before the students leave school.

There again, perhaps they have kids while they're at school. All the more reason to teach them something about life and living it responsibly.

I shall probably get castigated for that post. I don't mind. It brings out the nature of modern mums.