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.