[tylerc230]

A lot of parents at our school signed a “wait until 8” pledge to wait until 8th grade before getting them smartphones. This way there will be less social pressure from their friends to be connected. My assumption is that without a smartphone they won’t use social media.

[kridsdale1]

Meanwhile I spent every minute of free time from 2000-2005 using phpbb, irc, and aim, on a big CRT and PC

[phatfish]

Same, and most of it was wasted time. But at least it didn't follow me to school, or bed, or well everywhere.

I'm not sure completely shielding your child from screens is the best approach. I'll be attempting to have a visible space in the house where a laptop or tablet can be used. But they stay there.

[iforgot22]

Those aren't the same, but even those weren't good. I was on that stuff too, big waste of time that I wish I had back.

[mc3301]

none of those were specifically engineered with the attention-economy in mind.

[baxtr]

I did the same. But sometimes I wonder if that’s why I’m so unfocused today.

[polski-g]

The demographics of those online were probably more healthy than today.