The first thing I ever touched was a Windows XP desktop, then Windows 7 laptop, then win8.
Then I got my first phone.
Curious about what kids these days have?
iPads? Phones?
Do kids just get used to a corporation being able to control what software they can install?
Because I feel like kids these days will get their first device and its either a phone or tablet and (regardless if its iOS or Android, sideloading restrictions begin in Android starting 2027 btw) are gonna get used to the cage that corporate has build and never venture out for freedom.
So this is it? Humans will get used to corporate digital cages?
My kid got an Android tablet for a 6-hour car ride for vacation. I don’t plan to use it unless we’re taking a similarly long car ride or hospital stay.
I added a 512GB micro SD card and filled it with downloaded videos from my home server. Most of the time it’s in airplane mode.
We got the kids tablets for long car rides too. We let them use them as a reward. PBS Kids games and Epic (books) are good compromises.
I love the PBS apps too, those will be a permanent install on our kids’ devices. I’ll check out Epic too.
Like OP, I’ll try to avoid the worst of Google Play Store and YouTube Kids for as long as possible. My oldest is still a toddler so we’re still in control of what she sees and does. It’s inevitable that they’ll encounter that stuff at school or other houses, but I hope they’ll be disinterested and watching some YouTube slop will only be a curiosity rather than an addiction/coping mechanism.
My wife and I recently rewatched an episode of the original Power Rangers series and my god was that terrible. It was my favorite show when I was 7, but at least it fostered an early love for mecha shows. ;)