iPad kid
iPad kid is a pejorative slang term typically used to refer to Generation Alpha children who appear to be addicted with phones or tablets, like the Apple iPad, and whom display negative behaviors as a result of said addiction.[1][2][3] Although usage dates back to the 2010s, the term was popularized in January 2021 after a TikTok creator created a viral video criticizing the parents of "iPad children", and again in November 2023.[4][5]
Description
[edit | edit source]Besides being used to refer to children obsessed with mobile phones or tablets, it also commonly refers to children who seem to have a limited attention span or throw tantrums when not being able to use such technology.[5][6] It can be used in both a positive and negative context, but is usually negative.[5]
Studies have shown that excessive screen time at a young age can be harmful and lead to struggles with attention span, emotional control and social interaction, which is often described in iPad kids.[6][7][8] A 2017 study found that 80% of children have access to a phone or tablet, and a 2025 report by Common Sense Media found that 40% of children have a tablet by the time they are 2 years old.[9][10]
History
[edit | edit source]Partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts towards online education and lockdowns caused an increase in electronic usage in young children.[11][12] Changes in parenting and access to technology also influenced such usage.[13][14] In 2023, videos depicting so-called "iPad kids" began trending on TikTok, a social media platform.[5] Videos describing or depicting said children quickly became viral, earning millions of views.[5]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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External links
[edit | edit source]
- File:Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg The dictionary definition of iPad kid at Wiktionary