Hacker News Reader

Comment by iambateman | Hacker News Reader

I think the question “how do we encourage digital exploration without causing phone addiction” is the defining question of our generation.

> the question “how do we encourage digital exploration without causing phone addiction” is the defining question of our generation

One component seems to be not providing them with a networked general-purpose computer out of the gate.

thoughtful guardrails are important.

That is how you wind up with new office workers who don't know how folders or a file system works.

Punish companies that make addictive algorithms. Pre-social media, websites were no where near as damaging

I definitely plan to limit my kid’s exposure to certain algorithms as much as possible.

As someone who has used zero social media in 10 years, this is incredibly trivial.

No one complains about being hopelessly addicted to listening to audio books or doing anki flashcards.

I suspect it isn't just social media but the cultivation of an online presence that is hopelessly addicting to many.

It is kind of like saying how do we get people to stop being addicted to smoking crack pipes. The crack is the problem, not the pipe.

That implies an underlying assumption that we need digital exploration. Do we?

Despite its flaws, HN is some of the best digital exploration there is. At least some teenagers spend time here and I’m glad they do.

I say we do need digital exploration.