Why Our Thinking About Screens and AI Keeps Missing the Point
Most conversations about screens and AI focus on how much time children spend, what digital tools replace, or whether content is “good” or “bad.” This article argues that those questions miss a deeper issue. Development is shaped by what children repeatedly practice. Modern digital environments often reinforce escape from discomfort and constant anticipation, training attention, emotion, and effort in subtle but powerful ways. Understanding this shift is essential if we want responses that build capacity rather than chase symptoms.
From Discomfort to Escalation: What Happens When Social Regulation Fails Online
Online interactions often escalate not because people have changed, but because the systems that normally regulate social behavior are weakened or missing. When emotional cues disappear and speed increases, misunderstanding grows, regulation strains, and conflict becomes more likely, especially for developing minds.