Oh! Kids nowadays!

Personal

Every generation seems to look at the younger one and shake their heads, muttering about how different things are "nowadays." But are we witnessing something genuinely different with today's children, or are we just falling into the age-old pattern of generational bewilderment?

Recent research from the University of Bath offers some fascinating insights. They suggest that social media and constant connectivity prevent people from experiencing what they call "profound boredom"—those extended periods of mental downtime that often lead to more creative and reflective activities.

The Lost Art of Being Bored

I find myself reminiscing about childhood experiences that seem almost alien by today's standards. There were long summer afternoons with absolutely nothing planned, no scheduled activities, no screens to turn to for instant entertainment. Just time. Empty, unstructured, seemingly endless time.

Those periods of boredom weren't comfortable, but they were transformative. When you had exhausted all obvious entertainment options, creativity had to kick in. You invented games, created elaborate imaginary worlds, or simply let your mind wander in ways that structured activity never allows.

A Different Social Landscape

The social interactions of previous generations were characterized by spontaneity and physical presence. You would simply appear at a friend's door, hoping they were home and available to play. Plans were loose, conversations happened face-to-face, and entertainment emerged from group dynamics rather than individual consumption.

Compare this to today's highly structured, digitally mediated social landscape:

  • Planned vs. Spontaneous: Today's social interactions are often scheduled and coordinated through digital platforms
  • Supervised vs. Independent: Children have less freedom to explore their neighborhoods and create their own adventures
  • Virtual vs. Physical: Much of social interaction happens through screens rather than shared physical experiences
  • Fast vs. Slow: Cultural development and social change happen at an accelerated pace
  • Connected vs. Present: Constant connectivity prevents deep engagement with immediate surroundings

It's Not Just the Technology

While it's easy to blame smartphones and social media, the issue runs deeper than technology itself. Society has become more restrictive and risk-averse. Parents, understandably concerned about safety, provide more supervision and structure than previous generations. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured exploration and independent discovery.

This isn't necessarily wrong—the world has genuine risks that previous generations might have overlooked. But it comes with trade-offs. When every moment is managed and every activity is purposeful, where do children learn to navigate uncertainty, create their own entertainment, or develop internal resources for handling solitude?

The Nostalgia Trap

I want to be careful not to fall into the nostalgia trap. Previous generations weren't perfect, and many aspects of modern childhood represent genuine improvements. Today's children have access to incredible educational resources, greater awareness of mental health, and more diverse perspectives than ever before.

But something valuable may have been lost in the transition. The ability to sit with discomfort, to find entertainment in simple things, to form deep friendships through extended face-to-face interaction—these skills don't develop automatically. They require practice and opportunity.

Finding Balance

The challenge isn't to recreate the past, but to thoughtfully integrate the best of both worlds. Technology isn't inherently harmful, but our cultural relationship with it needs boundaries and intentionality.

Perhaps we need to create space for boredom, opportunities for unstructured social interaction, and permission for children to experience the discomfort of having nothing immediate to do. These aren't design flaws in childhood—they're features that foster creativity, resilience, and genuine social connection.

The question isn't whether kids nowadays are worse or better than previous generations. The question is whether we're giving them the full range of experiences they need to develop into thoughtful, creative, resilient human beings. And that's a question every generation needs to ask themselves.