Am I being old fashioned?

It's rather interesting that that is a phrase that is increasingly becoming more and more popular within adults in America, but rather more prominently-young adults.  Nothing pisses off a 20-something year old than a kid with an iphone.  Over the weekend I babysat at a very wealthy family's home, where I witnessed something that I was a bit shocked with, and this was the fact that the 2, 5, and 13 year olds all had working iphones. I decided to blog.

The article "iPhones and Children: A Psych Problem Waiting To Happen?" sheds some light on this growing societal trend of children, increasingly younger and younger getting there hands on technology that is mainly used by adults for business purposes, as well as some pleasures such as phone calls, texting, internet, and music.  Though it is understandable that society is "moving forward" and newer parents want to play the role of givers as well as "the cool parents" from very early on, is it really necessary for a child who cannot even read yet to be given an iphone? The author of the article, Stephen Shankland, states of his 3 year old, "He loves to type nonsense words on the notepad application using the virtual keyboard, deleting them once they've been read." That statement alone proves my point.  Though it may seem innocent at first, it is a little bit scary to see how technology in general is speeding up a child's process of learning and developing, maybe a little too quickly.  Not only that, but a child is essentially stripped of a childhood as they are being granted more and more of what they want from way too early on.  This can can cause problems later on life with snooping, children becoming spoiled, and children becoming unecessarly corrupted.  I blame the parents.

Maybe I am old fashioned, but this leaves little time for a kid to go outside and play as his or her own playtime is in the palm of their hands.  I still remember my first cell phone, which was the nokia "brick phone" in 7th or 8th grade. Even that may seem too early for someone who is significantly older than me.


article link: http://www.ismashphone.com/2010/10/iphones-and-children-a-psych-problem-waiting-to-happen.html

All eyes on the princess.

As the days are approaching to the Royal wedding, naturally, the media is speculating every single move that the royal couple is making.  This includes the increasing focus on Kate Middleton's figure.  There have been many media speculations about Ms. Middleton taking on a dangerous "Dukan" diet, better known in France and similar to the Atkin's diet, in order to shed a few pounds before the big day. 

With the American public being already so obsessed with body image and looks, more so than in England, this added emphasis on speculating Kate Middleton's health because of pre-wedding dieting makes for more media stories.  The American public loves controversy, and though Kate has been looking slightly thinner than usual, it is hardly alarming.  Media outlets are now focusing on calling her "bridezilla" rather than a soon to be "blushing bride." They are focusing too much on labeling her hard headed, and maybe exuding too much determination.  Maybe this persistence to look her best reflects many other character traits that may suggest her abilities to be pragmatic.  Though there are no true sources weighing in on her taking part in this diet, there mere fact that the media is posing the possibility of this in order to make a good story is a bit alarming.  This also proves that Americans are less concerned about her taking on a royal title, and being able to fulfill her duties the right way having little political experience.