I’m not saying you’re wrong because yes those are real problems your discussing and absolutely worthy of discussion. Mishandling how AI fits into society is going to be a major problem, the pandemic was a huge disruption globally, and devices designed to extract as much dopamine as possible are definitely targeting kids. These are valid problems of our day.

But (I’m assuming you are a teen), many people have experienced similar pervading fears in the past, in my lifetime I’ve gone through multiple economic crises, watched planes crash into multiple buildings on live TV in 3rd grade and watched our country split itself apart politically in real time recall the Y2K bug hysteria, and yeah even flip phones in my time were decried as addictive.

My parents lived through the looming threat of global nuclear conflict and the fear that commies have already secretly invaded and body snatched your neighbors and that “thuggish drug dealers” are on every corner waiting to give you drugs and get you addicted while the real drug dealers (tobacco companies) testified in front of congress that they weren’t marketing to kids with their cool and edgy cartoon characters and that nicotine wasn’t addictive.

Adults might not seem phased because most of us have been through global scale crises before. For some, yeah that stoicism is just callousness of a lifetime of unnecessary crisis. For others, it’s a call to action to tackle a problem none of us can solve ourselves. Most parents, if they had the choice and power, wouldn’t want their children to go through this kind of stuff, but we aren’t the ones who hole the keys to power, that belongs to our “heavily sponsored” politicians. All we can do is just figure out the next few steps as they happen.

I’m not saying this to invalidate your fears, there is truth to them, but don’t give up because of that fear. Learn about what causes that fear, understand it, and then fight to make sure others don’t have to go through it. You’re young, you have a good starting baseline of understanding about the world, far more than I did when I was a teen, you have a lot of time to expand that understanding, keep learning, and fight the good fight.

As if you are the first kid who thought their parents can’t learn, don’t deal with the issues, and can’t empathize 🤣.

I’m 40 and could explain to you how AI works and have a better model how it’s going to affect kids lives.

This is peak I’m 14 nobody understands me meme in nutshell.

Isn’t this broadly true of every generation that’s sufficiently younger than its parents (25+ years ought to do it)? My parents didn’t really understand what personal computers and console gaming systems meant to me growing up. Their parents probably didn’t understand the impact television and mainframe computers meant to them growing up. (Each generation has had pretty massive global disruptions, too. World wars, smaller wars, terror attacks, and yes pandemics.)

So, yeah, their situation is unique, but so was ours. The best a parent can do is try to find the path forward with love and empathy and an eye toward the best achievable outcome for their kids. What kids hopefully come to understand is their parents are doing their best with limited information and other resources.

Edit: man I just went through some shit to post this. Somehow I was both logged out and logged in at the same time, so I couldn’t post this comment. Also now if I tap in this text entry field it offers to bring up my stored passwords…

“You don’t know what it’s like,” says teenager who doesn’t know what it’s like.

Kinda reminds me of growing up with the DC sniper in my neighborhood, witnessing 911 happen on a crt tv, and seeing a recession start as soon as I graduated high school.

Damn you think about a lot in the shower. You’ve even cited sources! How long are your showers??

It’s a difficult generation to be in. Tougher than mine for sure. Today’s kids are the future, so I have high hopes that they will handle it. Including a hard push back against tech addiction.

I don’t know. While I do not want to downplay the pressure and uncertainty these kids experience (you missed climate change), there are common patterns that repeat:

• job uncertainty has been seen in recessions before, globalization lead to cheaper labour that put people out of jobs (or gave new opportunities)
• there was once a time of the constant threat of a nuclear war
• 9/11 deeply cut into the feeling of safety of multiple generations

I feel the isolation is unique, for sure, but at the same time one can interact with others more freely than ever.

Things repeat, even the ancient Greek complained that the youth becomes stupider and uses language improperly etc.

Where I’m from, the parents and children have led pretty similar lives. Middle school was stressful enough that they didn’t go put anyways.

Don’t be so pessimistic. Every generation had it’s problems and we are still alive. People tend to think they and their situations are special. That’s not true.

People this days, especially the younger generations, are very pessimistic. They seem to not even try to have a good life since it will end soon it seems. This will cause a lot of brilliant minds to let their potential die slowly while realizing later in life they could have done better.

You have to understand one important thing: While a situation is bad there can still be a positive trend. Less people die of hunger, Corona killed significantly less people than the Spanish flu. Etc.

Even if the climate changes, somehow mankind will survive. AI want kill all jobs since AI doesn’t have hands. There is so much stuff outside that needs human intellect. Don’t let the media and zeitgeist let kill your intellect people. Be optimistic!