iPod Game

This winter, my daughter saved up the money she earned dog walking.  Now she has a cute, annoying, iPod.

I must admit, it can be a useful thing, especially when she’s away from home.  She can text, email, find directions, input reminders, take pictures, listen to music, and even play games.  Games.  Bonus.

What I dislike about iPods – or any portable electronic device – is the amount of time spent on them at inappropriate times, a trend that seems to be increasing.

We’ve made some rules for iPod use in our family – like when we should be talking to or listening to other people, or even doing something like watching a movie together – THE GADGET IS OFF!

I’ve started playing my own iPod game – without an iPod.  It’s called, “What Are They Doing With Their iPod?”

When someone stops dead in her tracks at the grocery store and stares into the palm of her hand, what is she doing?  Checking her grocery list?  Calculating price per gram?

Or when he takes his electronic device up to the salad bar, is he texting his wife to see what he’s allowed to eat?  Looking up calories?  Sending a picture and message to his friend: “food looks good tonight – come on down”?

Or when a couple stands together, embracing, looking at their separate iPhones, are they calling other people or texting sweet nothings to each other?  I don’t know, but either one sounds terribly romantic.

What I find most alarming is how often I can play my game.

The Newest Bully

Bullies have always been around.  In fact, if we consider world history on a corrupt-kings-and-tyrannical-leadership scale, it used to be worse. Things got better for countries who embraced the concept of human rights, but even then bullies remained.

So why this recent focus frenzy on bullying?  Has it really gotten worse lately or do we just hear about it more?  The tragic teen suicides and school shootings have definitely put the issue into the spotlight.  But no, bullying is not new, though something else is:  computer technology and the Internet and, in turn, cyber-bullying.

At one time, children could come home and get away from the negative peer behaviour that was going on at school.  Now, the moment they turn on their computers, log in to social networking sites, or flip open their cell phones, it could be there waiting for them.

Cyber-bullying is especially dangerous because, a) it can be constant (can’t get away as mentioned above), b) it can be hard for adults to notice (unlike a black eye), c) it can be more malicious than face-to-face bullying because perpetrators have a sense of protective anonymity, and d) it can be hard to stop because perpetrators actually CAN be anonymous and almost impossible to catch.

I appreciate technology, I really do.  But if we’re not careful, it could make a lot of things worse, including bullying.  Are children and teens with their heads glued to iPads and thumbs stuck to iPhones learning proper socials skills, conflict resolution, and so forth?  Are parents who are likewise addicted to technology noticing what’s going on with their children?  Are they spending time teaching them to be sociable, kind, and accountable?

If we adults don’t control the technology in our lives by monitoring Internet usage, watching for cyber-bullies, and unplugging often to practice positive face-to-face communication, then who will?