Netizens Spark An Important Discussion About Not Seeing Kids Having Fun Outside

"Most kids aren't addicted to social media; if anything, they're addicted to eachother"

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• February 17, 2022

When you ask adults, especially your own parents, you’ll hear complaints about kids not enjoying the outside world anymore. Then they drone on to tell the tales about how they used to play with other kids and how much fun it was to stay out the whole day.

They tell you about the dates they go or meet at the park to do social activities and let you know that you’re missing out on so much. Scrolling through your phone or playing games on your computer all day isn’t the way to spend your youth.

But have they noticed the difference in the outside world at the time that they were talking about? What were once trees and parks are now modern buildings and places where you need to pay or else you can’t stay.

The surroundings are not the only ones that make kids hesitant about going out, there are also factors like lack of public transportation and the strictness of their parents. Because what parents do are great social opportunities and are still things that are related to schoolwork or chaperoned activities.

There’s a tweet though that found its way to Tumblr and started a discussion why the sight of kids playing outside is rare enough to be questioned by adults. There were a lot of thoughts about this that stemmed from academic studies, but one thing is for sure, kids do want to play outside

The body started from this tweet by Mitchel Jorstad. Although it might be seen as a diss by adults, the message from this is true.

It’s now a concrete jungle out there and the kids weren’t the one who made it into that for sure

Then it made its way to Tumblr where someone commented how it looked like their hometown and it’s quite sad that this place looks like there’s no fun place for kids to hang around.

So many rules that benefit adults and yet they are doubtful why kids choose to stay at home in the comfort of their own room.

This is a sad story from one of the people who responded about the environment created by adults that are blinded by their own perspective.

Learn2anarchy made this comic about how people have messed up priorities that ultimately affect not them but younger generations.

There were multiple opinions in the discussions but there was something that stood out among these and Gretchen McCulloch

The writer herself, Gretchen McCulloch expounded the passages from her book and it painted a clearer picture of how kids and teens are actually affected

With all of these external factors looming over their plans, you can’t expect them to solve them before they can comfortably hang out. This is why as much as parents think that their kids are addicted to social media, it’s their main way to socialize with the friends they make.

If adults reflect on their actions when they were younger, they might understand the real problem

Adults do have more flexible access to their independence

A lot of the blame from the younger generation’s inability to socialize in person goes to their consumption of internet hours and an ethnography by Dana Boyd was included in the discussion

Teens actually do socialize, it’s just different than what their parents would consider socialization

The activities that parents consider are admittedly less fun than what teens have in mind

Then other factors arise that make parents wary of letting their kids out. Like being home before dark

But when you look at it, during the daytime, kids are mostly at school

Teens might be plagued by responsibilities too

It doesn't matter which class they belong to, there are common factor that spark wariness for kids to stay outdoors

Helicopter parenting is also a major factor that they can't freely enjoy their time

THis makes the normal pattern of their socializing to become a bit stuttered

If adults and parents want to understand their kids more then this book is highly recommended

It's not new for adults to misunderstand the younger generation. They grew up in a different time, in a different situation.

Then there's also the fact that there are a lot of misconceptions about the effects of technology on the youth of today. Nevertheless, the assumption that kids don't want to go and socialize is debunked by the discussions brought forward by the people who commented.

Do you agree with their opinions? Share yours in the comments.

Chelsi