iPad kid is a pejorative slang term typically used to refer to Generation Alpha children who appear to be addicted with phones or tablets, like the Apple iPad, and who display negative behaviors as a result of said addiction. [1] [2] [3] Although usage dates back to the 2010s, the term was popularized in January 2021 after a TikTok creator created a viral video criticizing the parents of "iPad children",[ citation needed ] and again in November 2023. [4] [5]
The term "iPad kids" has gained controversy over time, due to its use and effect on younger generations. Besides being used to refer to children obsessed with mobile phones or tablets, it also commonly refers to children who seem to have a limited attention span or throw tantrums when not being able to use such technology. [5] [6] It can be used in both a positive and negative context, but is usually negative. [5]
Studies have shown that excessive screen time at a young age can be harmful and lead to struggles with attention span, emotional control and social interaction, which is often described in iPad kids. [6] [7] [8] A 2017 study found that 80% of children have access to a phone or tablet, and a 2025 report by Common Sense Media found that 40% of children have an iPad by the time they are 2 years old. [9] [10]
Partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts towards online education and lockdowns caused an increase in electronic usage in young children. [11] [12] Changes in parenting and access to technology also influenced such usage. [13] [14] In 2023, videos depicting so-called "iPad kids" began trending on TikTok, a social media platform. [5] Videos describing or depicting said children quickly became viral, earning millions of views. [5]
The dictionary definition of iPad kid at Wiktionary