When it comes to appeasing liberal guilt in an age of tech
dominance of public policy consider this:
The American Academy of Pediatrics has just released
guidelines on cellphone use for our youngest users. I saw the news item about
it as part of a national TV broadcast over the weekend (Oct. 21-23). Here are the highlights:
- · No screen time for children under the age of 2
- · No more than one hour of screen time a day for those between 3 and 5
- · Older kids? Guidelines get vague
Where to begin. While laudable, it’s hard to think of a more
meaningless gesture. Imagine guidelines being set for children re: smoking.
That they are cautioned against cigarette smoke intake while their parents
chain-smoke through the day – and even during bedtime stories, or in their own
bed, the blue light of the screen dumbing their faces as the child wanders in the
room, awakened by a dream not stirred by looking into a phone.
I will believe the likes of politicians’ promises when they
are not affected by the fortunes in campaign dollars being funneled to them by
forces in Silicon Valley. When serious guidelines are published and distributed
to warn adults against the dangers of overuse of mobile phones. Until then, do
yourself a favor and read The Deep State. http://bit.ly/2eyEL9j
Would that we could get serious about informing people of
the deleterious effects of cellphone addiction. That is a cultural climate
change that I’d like to see.
Next: Running for Your Life: Pace Setting
