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Kids are digital, but that doesn’t mean they’re savvy

Daniel Piotrowski

by Daniel Piotrowski

28 Nov 01:45pm

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Filed under: Internet, Mental Health, Technology, Video Games

53 comments

People often say that kids these days are “digital savvy”. Those people are wrong.

Kids today are definitely “digital” – some Gen Zers (see above) are even confused why printed magazines don’t interact with them like iPads – but that doesn’t mean they’re “savvy”.

They might know how to use technology. But just like drugs, alcohol, sex and relationships, that doesn’t mean kids know how to use it in a way that’s safe and appropriate.

Case in point: the growing number of children addicted to the internet. Dr Philip Tam from the Concord Hospital’s Rivendell Adolescent Unit told Adelaide’s Advertiser last year that he’s been “getting calls from parents and GPs all over Australia…desperate families unable to get their kids off the computer”.

And Sydney’s Daily Telegraph this morning reported the story of one young Sydney mum whose son is so addicted to online video game World of Warcraft that he punches holes through walls, threatens people and throws things around if he’s told to get off the computer.

This trend shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Kids are growing up in a world where they often have access to a world of information and entertainment in their pockets. It’s a world that their parents could only dream of when they were younger.

But it’s wrong to just blame the technology or a disorder on kids becoming obsessed with the online world, experts told The Punch.

“The thing is, it’s wrong to just slap a label on internet addiction and say it’s a disorder,” Professor Bob Montgomery, a fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, told The Punch this morning. “It often excuses people, parents say, ‘it’s not lousy parenting, my child has ADHD’.”

Internet addiction isn’t even really an addiction but an obsession, Prof Montgomery says. Addictions are biological and sufferers experience withdrawal symptoms, whereas that’s not the case with people obsessed with playing on the internet.

“The bigger question we’ve got to ask about kids who spend a lot of time playing on the internet is: what’s so unrewarding about their rest of their lives? Are they lousy at forming relationships?”

Kids get lots of positive feedback from engaging with virtual communities that they might not be getting anywhere else in their life.

“I think you’ll find a lot of kids who spend lots of time playing on the internet and playing with little physical exercise have social phobia, anxiety, they’re frightened of going out and starting relationships.”

Like everything else in life, kids have to learn to use the internet responsibly, in a way that’s balanced with the rest of their lives.

The answer to that isn’t just in referring kids to psychiatrists – even though that’s certainly warranted in cases where it becomes a serious disorder – but rather, with parents, teachers, and adolescents’ own experience.

Kids may be digital, but they need to get the “savvy” from somewhere and that’s where adults are clearly letting them down.

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53 comments

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    • TheBrad says:

      12:55pm | 28/11/11

      Launching a website to help conquer internet addiction….. http://qkme.me/35d4j4 you are a genius!

      Reply

    • Mahhrat says:

      01:09pm | 28/11/11

      Want to focus on the “How bad is the rest of their life” argument.  I don’t think it’s that simple.

      See, the internet is a place where it’s very easy to find a group of people who have the same likes and dislikes as you.

      If you want a great example of this, look up /r/atheism on reddit.

      Point is, you don’t need to work terribly hard to find acceptance online.  It’s certainly a hell of a lot easier than looking in the real world for it.

      There, you can log off is someone is being an ass.  You can change forums, or even flame back because the anonymity shield is pretty impenetrable.

      As a result, kids today aren’t developing the tools necessary to deal with life’s minor annoyances - what we Punchers seem to increasingly call “First World Problems.”

      THAT is the real risk of the internet.

      The other side of the argument, of course, is just how awesome a place the internet is.  The only reason we don’t have a “Matrix” is because our technology isn’t there YET.  You are deluding yourself if you think it won’t happen in our lifetime.

      You will be able to rent a small studio apartment with a toilet, a shower and a couch/bed with a great ‘net connection, then “plug in”.  Work, play, all done online in a seamsless and infinitely modifiable virtual reality that will be so good, it’ll make the brain accept that as the reality.

      The “Meat World” (as opposed to meta world) will become a “daily commute” - keeping the heart ticking long enough to get to “work” or “play” online.

      We aren’t there yet though, so we have to help our kids.  Get them off the ‘net sometimes.  The ‘net can be a great babysitter, but it will never be a great parent.

      Reply

    • JC says:

      02:19pm | 28/11/11

      As much as I would want to jump into a virtual reality Skyrim or something, it isn’t going to happen that easily. I’m sure scientists and such could invent such a thing, but why would big business such as oil companies want that, things such as cars would be useless. The world is run by money, and until a company can find a way to exploit a matrix like internet, then it won’t be worth making.

      Another thing I’d like to point out is how dangerous the internet would be if this were the case, hackers are already dangerous and hard to stop, can you imagine what they could do in virtual reality?

      This is all hypothetical and could be cool in theory but the fact is the human race is full of pricks.

    • mahhrat says:

      02:54pm | 28/11/11

      @JC, if I might answer your (very good, actually) points by paragraph:

      There is massive business in an online world.  Why?  You make it yourself.

      Skyrim’s a great example.  The game is less than a month release, already there is a massive modding community adding to the game, fixing it, whatever.  It’s huge and growing exponentially.

      The other thing it does is opens the floodgates to imagination.  The virtual world is not restricted by - well, anything.  You can be, do whatever you can think of.

      Do you not see the marketing potential of that?  The ability to generate experiences?  They are truly limitless now.

      As for infrastructure, things still need to be built, be maintained.  There will always be a significant percentage - perhaps even a majority - that will not want the virtual world. 

      Hackers in a virtual reality would have the same impact as criminals in the real one.  You would have people - if not a “police force” as such, then certainly programmers selling things to shield you from such attacks.

      Remember, there are people on the other side of the Hacker divide, who work damn hard, fast and well preventing the kind of cyber-crime you’re talking about.  It’ll never be perfect, but it should be okay.

      I imagine a future online world aking to what was briefly seen in “Caprica”, where permanent damage is impossible, you’re just kicked out.  I can’t imagine an internet being put together without such safeguards.

      I know this is all very idealistic, but it’ll happen.  Boy’s gotta believe in SOMETHING.

    • Kheiron says:

      03:19pm | 28/11/11

      Yeah. Given the money something as pointless and crap as virtual farming can bring in I seriously doubt there’d be a lack of money making ideas in a virtual setting.

      Just imagine the virtual porn industry…

    • Fred says:

      04:50pm | 28/11/11

      I agree. The real world is overrated.

      This world of warcraft guy’s problem is that he’s probably not eating right or something biological. Or he should just dump the game and get a game that doesn’t make you want to play it all day.

    • Alex says:

      05:24pm | 28/11/11

      reddit scum

    • Elphaba says:

      01:23pm | 28/11/11

      The young kids having a WoW addiction is the one that pisses me off.  It’s a subscription service - the parent is funding said service.  Why are they paying for kids to do this stuff?  My mother would have laughed at me if I asked her to buy me something like this - followed by ‘get a job’.

      Blaiming internet or video game addiction on some sort of mental illness that needs to be catagorised and studied is bullshit.  These scenarios are the product of lazy parenting.  Stop sucking up the already overworked mental health system and be a parent.  Say ‘no’ to extravagant requests.  Moderate their time on the internet and video games (or don’t have them at all), and take it away when they abuse it.

      No matter how matey you try to be with your kids, they’re going to hate you a little at some point when they’re growing up.  Parents need to get a thicker skin and look at the big picture that discipline will paint later on.  It will foster respect.  Then you can be their friend.  But you’ll get nowhere unless you’re their parent first.

      Reply

    • Mahhrat says:

      01:30pm | 28/11/11

      Love the bit about mates, Elph.

      I am not my daughter’s friend.  I am her father.  I love her, muck about with her, play games (including online ones!) and all that gumph.

      But her mate?  No way.  I need to be able to set boundaries.

    • James1 says:

      01:40pm | 28/11/11

      Another one that made me laugh was the parents who cannot get their kids off the computer.  Have they never heard or thought of physically taking away their computers?  Our daughter was getting out of hand with Minecraft, so we confiscated her laptop until she agreed to sit down with us and work out a plan to use Minecraft less.

      How long did the confiscation last?  45 minutes.  Sure, she hated us with a passion for that 45 minutes, but sometimes you have to demonstrate your superior patience.

      In many cases where this breaks down, it seems to me that the parents either unwilling to be hated as has been pointed out, or that the parents are less patient than their children.

    • Elphaba says:

      01:40pm | 28/11/11

      @Mahhrat, that’s it.  I love my parents, but what I love the most about them, is the fact they didn’t take any of the teenage tantrum-pulling crap that I saw so many of my friends get away with.

      The flipside is that Mum might be a little bit to parent-y at times even though I’m almost 30, but I forgive that.  She can voice her opinion, the difference is that now, I don’t have to go along with the advice if I don’t want to. 

      They’ve equipped me for the world.  That’s the parents job.  Not giving into their demands for 1st world junk beyond clothes, food, schooling and medical care.  To give in to those demands is to do them a major disservice.  Once those kids get into the world and realise that people won’t bend over backwards to indulge their every whim, that’s how they end up in therapy wondering why nobody likes them - because they equate love, with being spineless.

    • Elphaba says:

      01:56pm | 28/11/11

      @James1, I know - ay kick and punches your kids might manage to land are not going to hurt that much.  I know grown late-teens are different, but kids under about 12?  Give me a break.  You can forceably remove them and confiscate the computer with minimal bruises to you.

      Hell, maybe they’ll break the computer whilst pitching a fit and solve the problem for you… smile

    • It's the Parents says:

      02:08pm | 28/11/11

      @James1: NOOOOO, leave Minecraft alone!! Though obviously an addiction is an addiction - I do wonder sometimes whether if the child was as addicted to say, another creative outlet such as painting, anybody would bat an eyelid.

      However, in this case I concur with the sentiment that there’s something wrong with the parents. As has been pointed out, WoW requires a monthly subscription. So unless this 13 year old is moonlighting with an online WoW business inbetween fights¹, someone’s paying for something they shouldn’t be.


      ¹If he is - than maybe one day he’s going to grow up to be a great internet entrepreneur and he’s learning all the skills he needs? Doesn’t seem like it in this case though.

    • Kheiron says:

      02:12pm | 28/11/11

      All good and true points making it obvious that we know the solution, but not how to implement it. Or, at least not in a way that’ll be accepted.
      Any time you bring a persons parenting into question you cop an obscene level of flak from some of the most vocal people who make up a key voting demographic. Hence, you can consider doing anything to realistically solve the problem as political suicide.
      On the other side, whenever you start giving politicians the power to legislate on issues as fundamental as parenting tactics you set a standard that can quickly dissolve a democracy into a moral dictatorship…assuming that’s not what we have already.

    • Elphaba says:

      02:24pm | 28/11/11

      @Kheiron, I don’t think the government should be doing anything beyond releasing a set of guidelines, maybe some instructional material, and the free web filters the Howard govt put out.  Put this stuff in the parents hands, but if the parents screw it up, then it’s on them.

      At some point these busy-body activists need to learn that you can’t save everybody. Inform the parents, but enacting the protocols suggested is up to the families.

    • Kheiron says:

      03:13pm | 28/11/11

      @Elphaba, yes. A nice “You screw up, it’s your fault” policy would be nice…but that’s not going to happen. Too many people with too many votes still going with this ‘self esteem is more important then being a functional human being’ kick of theirs.
      In fact, in just about every aspect of society today, a return of personal responsibility would do absolute wonders.

    • Elphaba says:

      03:34pm | 28/11/11

      @Kheiron, true.  Meddling is the order of the day, and it’s annoying…  angry

    • Kipling says:

      05:18am | 29/11/11

      I find it wierd that “parents” cannot set and enforce reasonable boundaries for the kids that will give the kids valuable life lessons. I say this coming from some two decades of working predominantly with other people’s kids or parents around parenting issues.

      You can confront parents about their parenting practices, of course, you need to do so from a genuine perspective of strength based practice and building on existing skills. No, that wasn’t a very strength based sentence, but you lot presumably are not my clients grin

      It is also helpful to accept that parents love their kids, even those parents who at times appear not to be capable at demonstrating that love effectively.

      As to getting kids off the computer… After a couple of decades dealing with this and similar issues with young peoplel living out of home who are not my children, who have no emotional connection with me and no desire to form one it is not rocket science. Be the adult…

      Of course, for some that is easier said than done. You often do not need to look to far back to see where a range of current adults were not taught appropriate lessons to be adults.

      The Government does not need to implement anything major to address this though. Guidelines would largely be ignored but, the “welfare” concept of throwing money at the problems needs to shift. The money could be better used in developing effective and timely early intervention services that can offer meaningful support, skill building, a sounding board, advice and advocacy for parents, families and children. Services need to be independent of schools, Child Welfare agencies etc, yet capable of working along side these agencies as appropriate.

      Currently the idea of Early Intervention in NSW at least is to wait until families are already seriously struggling with multiple issues and then enforce the intervention for the main part. The voluntary support programs are not effectively promoted enough and, consequently, largely go unsupported by the communities they are in. Baring in mind also, many people are distrustful (and rightly so at times) of anything that may be associated with Child Welfare, Education and/or the Law and, currently at least, even the best set up services in existence are still associated in one way or another with the machine that is Government interference.

      It is entirely ironic to me that industry and business rail viciously against any and all forms of regulation, yet it is apparently OK for families to be heavily regulated, particularly if they come into the spot light of Child Protection agencies, welfare, education and/ the legal system at any level.

      Oh and I am also addicted to WoW…. Theoretically a managed addiction I think grin

    • Shenanigans says:

      02:15pm | 28/11/11

      I was addicted to WoW and the internets too once, my dad solved this by cancelling my subscription (after he could take no more of my tantrums from being booted off the pc) and taking away the power cables if i was on the pc for any longer then 2 hours straight. Now i have my own income and much more interesting things to do, like hang out with them lovely lady folk, and the fact i don’t live at home so if i want anything i have to get it myself. I really only get about 3-4 hours of gaming in day, if that. although with my busted shoulder I’m spending upwards of 8 hours a day gaming, with breaks of course.

      but seriously gaming addiction, puh-lease. more like anti-social nerds who troll forums with the worst of them, get all nervous and sweaty in group situations and get all weird around lady folk and who wouldn’t know what sunlight was even if you painted them a picture and slammed it in their face.

      Reply

    • Kheiron says:

      02:37pm | 28/11/11

      I find it a little disconcerting that when people exaggerate the stereotype of computer nerds to make a point most of the statement is still an accurate description of me…

    • Markus says:

      03:03pm | 28/11/11

      I’m fairly sure the major reason I don’t find The Big Bang Theory at all amusing is that all of the characters are just 2-dimensional, less funny versions of some of my friends.

    • amy says:

      05:29pm | 28/11/11

      I dont know what point your trying to make by saying that tired old steryotype..its getting old (true or not)

    • skepdad says:

      02:35pm | 28/11/11

      Take away the kids whose parents habitually use technology as a babysitter, and the kids whose parents refuse to actually parent, and the kids whose parents refuse to educate themselves about technology, and the kids whose parents are too narcissistic to take an interest in what their kids are doing with their time, and what are you left with?

      About three genuinely internet-addicted kids in the entire world.

      FFS grow up parents.

      Reply

    • Markus says:

      02:36pm | 28/11/11

      I still remember this ACA gem on World of Warcraft addiction:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8hfK3RQs2g

      Other players figured out which server his character played on, created characters there and taunted him relentlessly (mostly about having a character that crappy despite being so addicted he plays 18hrs a day) until he quit the game altogether.

      To the kid’s parents - you’re welcome. But if you wanted him to quit without being traumatised at the same time, you should have specified that beforehand.

      Reply

    • Mr A Dad says:

      02:52pm | 28/11/11

      These people with gaming additctions do know there is free porn on the internet don’t they?

      no kdding honest to god FREE PORN!!!!!

      Reply

    • Chris_D says:

      04:10pm | 28/11/11

      Hahaha, good one Mr A Dad.  Not only that, but when they are 18 they can swap their online addiction for a gambling addiction on the pokies. Online gaming addiction solved!

    • Luke says:

      03:00pm | 28/11/11

      Why are kids addicted to internet!
      Porn of course.
      Gaming is the lesser evil!

      Reply

    • Tommy says:

      08:54am | 29/11/11

      Make war, not love.

    • Kat says:

      09:45am | 29/11/11

      Make love, not porn.

    • Bill says:

      03:33pm | 28/11/11

      Whatever happened to playing pin-ball machines at the fish ‘n chip shop after school?

      Reply

    • Chris_D says:

      04:13pm | 28/11/11

      @Bill, didn’t you know?  They all grew up and joined street gangs.

    • Anthony Sharwood

      Anthony Sharwood says:

      04:48pm | 28/11/11

      Nah, they moved the pinnies into the pubs, which was cool for a while, except then the pubs decided that pokies made more money, so all the pinnies disappeared. At least that’s the NSW version

    • amy says:

      05:31pm | 28/11/11

      the Nintendo Entertainment systm happend…...

      (yes yes you could point out atari and such..but I think the NES startes to bring gaming into the maintream..and at home)

    • Mark says:

      03:53pm | 28/11/11

      When i grew up there were many kids around me who were not permitted by their parents to watch TV - “it reinforces shallow materialism” “its too consumerist”  etc etc etc. In the end, they were to some extent conditoned to see evil in something their folks didn’t understand: all of the things represented on TV are similarly depicted in literature, on the radio and in film. TV is simply a new form of communication, and an extremely powerful one that can be used to
      any end. Unfortunately for some of the people I grew up around it still represents nothing short of evil. What always puzzled me was that some of their folks were outwardly very progressive, educated and engaged in such vocations as tertiary education.

      Having said that, there also a lot of people i grew up around who did nothing but watch TV. Mostly sitcoms and game shows. Some of them dont’t even begin to filter good from bad. They just watch TV…

      I suppose what I am getting at is this; you can’t deny change, and you can’t forget tradition. We must be informed of the future by the best lessons of the past. Common sense is the only remaining option.

      Reply

    • Chris_D says:

      04:11pm | 28/11/11

      A teen turns violent when his WoW is taken away.  Maybe WoW/online gaming could be the solution for all the violent teens in the world?  Just a thought.

      Reply

    • Rachel Laurel says:

      04:52pm | 28/11/11

      The National Library Of Australia is currently having an exhibition of manuscripts of some of the world’s greatest ever minds.
      Will that include the Punch Manuscripts of all 70 or 100 Liberal Party Punch Website Trolls? Or just of the Manuscripts of Australia’s children as exhibited at NAPLAN and HSC Tests??

      Reply

    • amy says:

      05:33pm | 28/11/11

      This is part of the reason I stay away from MMO’s, they dont hold much apeal for me, and I really dont have the time to invest in them….in the end what am I gaining? it just feels like a great big black hole I may eventually have to crawl out of

      but that siad..SAINTS ROW 3 FTW!!

      Reply

    • Chris says:

      06:38pm | 28/11/11

      I’m a 43 year old high school teacher, so I clearly didn’t grow up with much digital technology (I owned my first CD at age 18, first computer at 32). The experts call my age group “digital immigrants” as opposed to the younger “digital natives”. Every time one of these experts conducts a seminar into the workings of the new “digital brain”, there is always the unspoken, yet clear, assertion that the new ways of learning are better than the old; that we are the ones who have to catch up with the digital generation; that young people can’t survive in a world without constant digital connection.
      Yet, time and again, I find myself teaching these “natives” how to get around the internet and find the right stuff, rather than wading through pages of nonsense, teaching them how to troubleshoot on computers, how to reset passwords, create documents, use spell-check properly—in other words, the kind of skills they’re supposed to have. They know lots of tricks, sure, but nothing that is actually of any use beyond the trivial things they do on computers. Give them free time on the things, and they’re straight into games, every last one of them.
      And here’s the thing: they’re no better off for it. They’re no smarter, no better at making moral, rational decisions, and have no better social or communication skills. The quality of their work is not improved by having the world’s information available instantly.
      I’m glad to be an immigrant, because I know how to survive without constant connections, without the mobile phone, without iPod buds in my ear all day, and without having to communicate every inane detail of my life to everyone I know. In short, I can appreciate the technology and use it for my particular purposes (like now) and turn the blasted thing off when I’m done.

      Reply

    • Mr Pod says:

      08:10pm | 28/11/11

      Nice post - all new technology is ‘as well as’ not “instead of” otherwise you are just too susceptible to marketing.

    • sneakers says:

      10:24am | 29/11/11

      I personally hate computers, and I use the intertubes sparingly, so I agree with this particular comment.

      Although, I have to draw the line at “without iPod buds in my ear all day” .. when you’re surrounded by women at work, they’re a valuable asset!

      Hi ladiez! raspberry

    • kitteh says:

      12:56pm | 29/11/11

      Thank you. In my university teaching position I am often taken aback by the digital ‘illiteracy’ of the current students. Certainly they can IM each other, post on Facebook and play games - but many don’t know how to find information on a database, set up a spreadsheet, format a document and (most significantly) critically analyse the information they find.

      As an ‘immigrant’ myself, I remember wading through reams of journal articles at the library, doing long columns of statistics by hand and trying to fax 50-page documents. It was certainly worth learning how to do it, but there’s no doubt that there are extraordinary benefits to digital technology - I save immense time, frustration and paperwork. I don’t understand why anyone would ignore its potential as a tool in favour of inane entertainment.

    • Amy says:

      01:48pm | 29/11/11

      Spot on Chris. The government can throw all the money they like at making sure every kid in school has a computer or every school has the latest technology, whatever. But it’s not going to make an iota of difference if the teachers aren’t good at their jobs! Nothing can replace the skills of a good teacher. Maybe if they were paid a decent wage, more people would be attracted to the profession and schools would be able to have the pick of the best. Today’s kids have way too much access to technology from too early an age and I don’t think it’s doing them any favours.

    • Waynevan says:

      05:51am | 30/11/11

      Saw a great cartoon recently where a dad is on the phone to his son and says “Don’t forget to tell mum” and the kid says “Ok”. Next scene dad has arrived home with pizza but mum has cooked dinner. Kid says “But dad, I tweeted, texted, facebooked and emailed her, what more could I do?”
      However most of the under 21’s I come across each week are articulate and have the necessary social skills to relate to 30 somethings like me so there is some hope.
      Problem I see is when kids immerse themselves in the interwebs to the extent that they shelter themselves from reality and then can’t cope with any negativity they experience. When someone is less than 100% positive towards them they simply dismiss them as a “hater” and move on, when often the negativity comes from people who love them and are concerned about the direction they are heading.

    • Xar says:

      06:49pm | 28/11/11

      oh great - so youve both had a dig at parents of kids with ADHD and advised against a parent with concerns going to visit a doctor. Proud of this effort are we?

      Reply

    • Chris_D says:

      07:20pm | 28/11/11

      @Xar, “The answer to that isn’t just in referring kids to psychiatrists – even though that’s certainly warranted in cases where it becomes a serious disorder – “.

      Now disconnect and take a break.  It’s doing your head in.

    • xar says:

      11:46am | 29/11/11

      think you may be right Chris.

    • NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:

      10:25pm | 28/11/11

      Hi Daniel,

      Addicted to the internet, mobile phones, instant messaging constantly!!  I can say with all honesty that I am not surprised in the least!!  It is a bit like using the televisions as a baby sitter, right?? It seems to be just convenient to keep kids busy with electronic devices, so that it actually takes the pressure off the hard work of parenting!! 

      However, I just want to know if that is really enough??  What about social, communication skills, self confidence &  self esteem issues?? And truly being proud of who you are!!  How right you are, when you say that referring very young children to psychiatrists, is so wrong on so many different levels.  It all seems like a bit of a joke, really!!

      We are just becoming a drugged out nation!!  Just like you mentioned, it is so much like addictions of any form such as drugs, alcohol & gambling!!  And the actual solution lies in our family structure & family ties!!  We are only shutting our kids up, with all these material things, but I just want to know “how much time do we all really dedicate to our very own family members”??  Best regards to your editors.

      Reply

    • david says:

      02:06am | 29/11/11

      1. Identify an issue
      2. Suggest a disorder, addiction or phobia around the issue
      3. Do some studies
      4. Create a new drug to ‘solve’ the issue

      I guess we are up to step three at the moment….

      Reply

    • Al says:

      07:42am | 29/11/11

      people who play WoW a lot realy seem to be suffering from a form of insanity:
      Repeating the same function over and over again just so you can go and repeat the same function again against a slightly harder oponent (which is now about the same difficulty as the previous ones as your attributes have increased as well). A very boring game with no real challenge.
      And yes I did play it (on a free 14 day trial) and guess what, I closed the account after 2 days it was that boring. And yes I DO enjoy RPGs, but WoW is realy dull.

      Reply

    • Phill says:

      10:40am | 29/11/11

      How about parents take the step and you know, parent their kid?
      Wi-Fi in the house?  Control the password.  Get a program that limits internet access and/or sites visited.
      Gaming “cough” addiction hmmm….  Learn what they are playing and when to draw the line.  i.e finish that quest then logoff.  If your child was playing cricket are they less likely to get angry if you tell them to come in when they are batting or wait until they get out?  Again, learn to parent.  If your little angel punches a hole in the wall, delete their character/account.  Cut off their access until enough of their pocket money has been forfeited to cover the cost of repairs. 

      Not that hard people.  My wife does it to me all the time

      Reply

    • Wayne says:

      12:08pm | 29/11/11

      I grew up in the country.  At one time, we had a diesel generator that came on at dusk for a few hours til we went to bed - cool the fridge/freezer, lights for night time, few hours of telly, that was it.  Even when we moved into a small country town, the most I would watch TV was 6pm when The Goodies were on, then after dinner.
      I had to use my imagination, get out and PLAY, rather than having it done for me by electrons.
      I think a few strategic blackouts/blown fuses could solve a lot of problems ......

      Reply

    • Seth Brundle says:

      03:21pm | 29/11/11

      “...he punches holes through walls, threatens people and throws things around if he’s told to get off the computer”.

      Yeah, thats not an addict, thats just an asshole.

      “The only reason we don’t have a “Matrix” is because our technology isn’t there YET.  You are deluding yourself if you think it won’t happen in our lifetime”.

      You mean like flying cars, and artificial intelligence ?

      Reply

    • Kika says:

      06:26pm | 29/11/11

      Could it BE that this is just another problem of the bubble-wrapped day care time-poor parent generation kids who have been stuck in front of a TV or a computer from as early as they can remember and have not ever realised, or better yet, been ALLOWED to explore the real world in case of the boogie man coming to get them or something? Hello?!

      I loved playing computer games as a kid. I was addicted at one stage when I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything or think about anything except Grand Theft Auto Vice City. I was obsessed at a point in my life where I was depressed and sad and everything else around me I just couldn’t deal with. It was an escape into a life where I had control and freedom. I can understand why kids get obsessed by games. Parents need to give them an alternative and once they stop they will thank themselves for it.

      Reply
 
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