[watwut]

Words means things. If I ask you for something again and again, you then provides it for me as a gift for christmas, using the word "forcing" is massively inappropriate.

It is not just a question of perspective. It is quite literally a question of what word means.

[toenail]

And being a parent means you are responsible for somebody. Yeah, maybe you don't "force" them, you just create offers they can't refuse.

[watwut]

Sure. But it has nothing to do with ridiculous argument that "kids are forced them into perpetual stimulation". No they are not forced. They want it and they are either allowed it or not.

[robertlagrant]

> Yeah, maybe you don't "force" them, you just create offers they can't refuse.

Agreed - it's not forcing. Not all things that are bad are forcing.

[mft_]

While I agree with your overall point, it's also worth asking where the desire for a new belonging comes from.

There may be more obvious stimuli like established hobbies, or peer pressure, but ultimately a lot of the desire for a new belonging is likely driven by marketing from the companies selling it.

[watwut]

Kids always wanted to have what other kids have, you do not need special marketing for that. It is just how human psychology works. Likewise, kids always wanted what they seen adults to have (phones).

And kids who have seen marketing to find nintendo or tv fun. If they seen it in their friends house, they found it fun.

[mft_]

> Kids always wanted to have what other kids have, you do not need special marketing for that.

And yet, much money is spent marketing things to children. What a waste this must be!

> Likewise, kids always wanted what they seen adults to have (phones).

While a mobile phone may be a simple and useful (even vital) tool, huge amounts of money is spent on marketing to drive desires for particular brands, or new models/features. This influences adults, and also probably children in turn.

> If they seen it in their friends house, they found it fun.

So where did those kids discover or get the desire for the item? And/or where did their parents get the idea to buy it for them? Why (e.g.) Playstation rather than Nintendo, or vice versa? At some point, it likely tracks back to marketing, creating the desire.

[watwut]

You are being intentionally obtuse. Yes, marketing works, because companies fight among each other who will be the winner.

"The desire for a new belonging" is present in kids who dont see ads nor have access to screens. They see what other kids have, they see what adults have. Kids wanting the same thing as other kids is nothing new or revolutionary.

Trying to pretend that kids wanting things is somehow a change against any time before is absurd.

> Playstation rather than Nintendo, or vice versa? At some point, it likely tracks back to marketing, creating the desire.

Small kids do not know playstation vs nintendo. They still want games. They want same games as their friends have.