I use technology, rather than allowing it to us me - as does my family. We're Orthodox Jews, but more than that we (as in my family) fail to see the majority of the utility most technologies provide. Effort saving technology is fantastic - but many others simply get in the way of the type of life I'd like to live, rather than reinforce it. While I love my Sabbath - I don't personally think that the forced disconnection from electronics is the healthy habit people need - regardless of my personal religious inclination. Establishing and reinforcing their primary selves over the years, while learning to use technology seems to be the real need, something that permeates due to lifestyle.
My children play with their friends, in meatspace. They co-ordinate doing so with WhatsApp or Telegram. This is the healthy balance. What they don't do is spend unending amounts of time playing video games, watching movies, or ever play a mobile game. They go to the movie theatre, or watch <insert streaming thing> with their friends should they want. But they don't do this every single day. Some use Khan Academy for play-based learning, all use their eBook readers for the unlimited books on whatever topics may interest them, for when we're out of treepubs.
Our trees are watered via a bluetooth drip irrigation system. Our groceries are delivered once ordered via an application. They walk to the local market to buy fresh in-season vegetables when we run out. During the week, when we study Torah we can access the history of exegesis through tablets. On Shabbat and Holidays we use books. It's balance.
Pfiuuu... You live in wonderland ! Congrats for getting your kids to do that !
How did you prevent your kids being sucked into tik tok and so on ? I tried, but failed :-( (at some point, I had to check what they do to make sure they don't spend too much time on these but, well I just couldn't handle the amount of checking I had to do)
Thanks for this comment. One thing I'm curious about is the influence of advertising. Is this something that is discussed at the community level? Say with your rabbi?
My children play with their friends, in meatspace. They co-ordinate doing so with WhatsApp or Telegram. This is the healthy balance. What they don't do is spend unending amounts of time playing video games, watching movies, or ever play a mobile game. They go to the movie theatre, or watch <insert streaming thing> with their friends should they want. But they don't do this every single day. Some use Khan Academy for play-based learning, all use their eBook readers for the unlimited books on whatever topics may interest them, for when we're out of treepubs.
Our trees are watered via a bluetooth drip irrigation system. Our groceries are delivered once ordered via an application. They walk to the local market to buy fresh in-season vegetables when we run out. During the week, when we study Torah we can access the history of exegesis through tablets. On Shabbat and Holidays we use books. It's balance.