IPad kid

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A child using an iPad. Child using an iPad 02.jpg
A child using an iPad.

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] The usage dates back to the 2010s but the term has gone viral several times. [4] [5]

Contents

Some school districts have faced pushback from parents for contributing to this phenomenon by requiring kindergarten and elementary school students to use iPads and Chromebooks at school and at home to complete schoolwork. [6] [7]

Description

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] [8] 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. [8] [9] [10] 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. [11] [12] Due to the lack of longterm studies, some researchers have stated that, "As a society, we are conducting a gigantic experiment on our kids," and that "We have no idea how it's going to turn out." [13]

History

Partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts towards online education and lockdowns caused an increase in electronic usage in young children. [14] [15] Changes in parenting and access to technology also influenced such usage. [16] [17] In 2023, videos depicting "iPad kids" began trending on social media platforms such as TikTok. [5] Videos describing or depicting said children quickly became viral, receiving millions of views. [5]

In 2025, Los Angeles school districts faced criticism from parents due to many schools requiring iPads and Chromebooks to complete school work. These parents did not want their children using iPads with one parent stating, "You’re basically giving them (the kids) cocaine." Another parent stated that her son would urinate in his pants and his pediatrician stated this was due to overstimulation interfering with his ability to notice normal bodily signals. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Draznin, Grace (2024-08-01). "iPad Kid: Understanding The Phenomenon And Its Impact". Today's Parent. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  2. ↑ Bragg, Meghan (2023-12-14). "How much screen time is too much for kids? | VERIFY fact check". WCNC. VERIFY. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  3. ↑ Sun, Esther (2025-01-09). "From Boomers to Gen Beta: A guide to the generation names". TODAY. NBC News . Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  4. ↑ Moftah, Basil (2015-10-05). "Raising The First Generation Of iPad-Addicted Kids". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Colosi, Rosie (2024-03-11). "What are 'iPad Kids'? Why Gen Z criticizes Gen Alpha's screen time". TODAY. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  6. 1 2 "Parents say school-issued iPads are causing chaos with their kids". NBC News. 2025-12-05. Archived from the original on 2026-01-23. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  7. ↑ Soave, Robby (2014-07-01). "LA Schools Realize Giving Every Kid an iPad Was a Costly Disaster, Will Give Every Kid a Laptop Instead". Reason.com. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  8. 1 2 Knake, Lindsay (2025-07-30). "What are iPad kids?". A Healthier Michigan. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  9. ↑ Rock, Kathleen (2025-06-20). "Screen Time and the Developing Brain: Are 'iPad Kids' at Risk?". University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  10. ↑ Adarlo, Sharon (2024-07-13). "iPad Use by Kids Linked to Long Term Emotional Problems". Futurism. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  11. ↑ Rideout, Victoria (2017). "THE COMMON SENSE CENSUS: MEDIA USE BY KIDS AGE ZERO TO EIGHT" (PDF). Common Sense Media . Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  12. ↑ "The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight". Common Sense Media . 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  13. ↑ "iPad Toddlers: The Guinea Pig Generation - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  14. ↑ Hagar, Ashley; Bensaadat, Hisham (2022-10-26). ""iPad Kids" are Shaping the Future of Education". The Spectator. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  15. ↑ Csordas, Bogi (2024-03-12). "iPad kids are hyperconnected, but addicted to their screens". The Lion's Roar. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  16. ↑ Travers, Mark (2024-01-18). "A Psychologist Reaches Parents How To Fix An 'iPad Kid'". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  17. ↑ Sweetser, Penelope; Johnson, Daniel; Ozdowska, Anne; Wyeth, Peta (2012-12-01). "Active versus Passive Screen Time for Young Children" . Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. doi:10.1177/183693911203700413 . Retrieved 2025-09-12.
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