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]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]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]References
[edit]- ^ Draznin, Grace (2024-08-01). "iPad Kid: Understanding The Phenomenon And Its Impact". Today's Parent. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Bragg, Meghan (2023-12-14). "How much screen time is too much for kids? | VERIFY fact check". WCNC. VERIFY. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Sun, Esther (2025-01-09). "From Boomers to Gen Beta: A guide to the generation names". TODAY. NBC News. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ Moftah, Basil (2015-10-05). "Raising The First Generation Of iPad-Addicted Kids". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ a b c d e Colosi, Rosie (2024-03-11). "What are 'iPad Kids'? Why Gen Z criticizes Gen Alpha's screen time". TODAY. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ a b Knake, Lindsay (2025-07-30). "What are iPad kids?". A Healthier Michigan. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Rock, Kathleen (2025-06-20). "Screen Time and the Developing Brain: Are 'iPad Kids' at Risk?". University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Adarlo, Sharon (2024-07-13). "iPad Use by Kids Linked to Long Term Emotional Problems". Futurism. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Rideout, Victoria (2017). "THE COMMON SENSE CENSUS: MEDIA USE BY KIDS AGE ZERO TO EIGHT" (PDF). Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ "The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight". Common Sense Media. 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ Hagar, Ashley; Bensaadat, Hisham (2022-10-26). ""iPad Kids" are Shaping the Future of Education". The Spectator. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Csordas, Bogi (2024-03-12). "iPad kids are hyperconnected, but addicted to their screens". The Lion's Roar. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Travers, Mark (2024-01-18). "A Psychologist Reaches Parents How To Fix An 'iPad Kid'". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ^ Sweetser, Penelope; Johnson, Daniel; Ozdowska, Anne; Wyeth, Peta (2012-12-01). "Active versus Passive Screen Time for Young Children". Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. doi:10.1177/183693911203700413. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition of iPad kid at Wiktionary