Children Who Never Stop Saying "Just One More"—A Warning About "iPad Parenting" That Also Applies to Japan

While preparing dinner, show a video to the child. When they start fussing on the train, hand over the smartphone. Finally, they quiet down, and the parent can take a breath.

An observer might describe such a scene as "letting the smartphone babysit again."

However, can one truly understand a family's entire day just by seeing the moment a screen is handed over? On the other hand, it's not acceptable to overlook the issue of children becoming unable to part with screens just out of consideration not to blame parents.

On September 16, 2026, Northern Star, the student newspaper of Northern Illinois University, published an editorial expressing concern over young children's dependency on digital devices. Using the term "iPad kid" as a starting point, it warns against the normalization of screens in both homes and schools.

This is an issue that resonates in Japan as well. However, to make the discussion constructive, it's necessary to carefully separate sensational language, research findings, and the realities of parenting.

"iPad kid" is not a diagnostic term

"iPad kid" is a colloquial term used to describe children who are engrossed in tablets or smartphones. Even though the name includes iPad, it's not just products from a specific manufacturer that are the issue.

This term also carries a mocking tone towards children and parents. By lumping together behaviors like watching videos during meals or getting angry when a device is taken away under the label "iPad kid," the age, purpose of use, and circumstances of the day become invisible.

The original article is not a news report conveying a medical diagnosis but an editorial expressing the author's concerns.

It can serve as an opportunity to rethink our relationship with screens. However, it cannot lead to conclusions such as "children who use tablets are addicted" or "introverted personalities are due to the internet."

What does the figure "about 40%" mean?

What catches the eye in the original article is the study involving about 4,300 children and the figure "about 40%" concerning addictive use of social media.

The study referenced was conducted by researchers from Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medicine, published in the medical journal JAMA in 2025.

According to the university's explanation, a pattern of high or increasing addictive use of social media over time was observed in about 40% of cases. This does not mean "40% of infants are tablet addicts." It is not a study that directly examined the use by infants.

More importantly, the study distinguished between "how many hours were used" and "what kind of usage it was."

Addictive usage patterns, such as difficulty in reducing use or interference with other activities, were associated with mental health issues. However, the study did not find a correlation between total screen time and the mental health outcomes examined.

However, this is not a license to say "it's okay to use for long hours." It does not prove safety concerning all impacts, such as sleep or eye health.

Moreover, as an observational study, it cannot definitively state that addictive use causes mental health issues. There are circumstances like isolation and stress that the study alone cannot capture.

What should be taken away is not "time limits are meaningless," but rather the suggestion not to judge a child's condition solely by the clock's numbers.

On social media, concerns and "don't blame parents" intersect

Discussions on social media about this issue are not one-sided.

 

What is introduced here are related posts and comments on Reddit that are publicly available, not direct reactions to the Northern Star article. They are personal experiences and opinions, not surveys representing the entire public opinion.

In a parenting community discussion in May 2025, comments pointed out the difference from previous TV viewing, noting that "small screens can now be carried anywhere." There is concern that entertainment, which ended when away from the home TV, now follows to outings and dining tables.

In the same discussion, there were opinions likening devices to libraries. Taking children to a library and letting them freely read any book, including those for adults, is different. Similarly, with screens, it's necessary to choose the content and have adults check it.

On the other hand, in a different discussion in November 2023, the high cost of living, lack of support, and strong demands on parenting were cited as backgrounds for parents' backlash against criticism of screen time. The difficulty of parents alone constantly having to restrict deeply embedded convenient technology in daily life was also discussed.

In an October 2024 post, there was an account from a parent using a tablet as a means to safely drive because their child was making a fuss in the car. Meanwhile, there were voices from families managing without relying on screens even when going out.

What can be seen from such posts is not simple agreement or disagreement. It's the image of families each seeking different compromises between "what is good for the child" and "how to make today's life work."

In Japan, schools are demanding "use"

When considering this discussion in Japan, the digitalization of schools cannot be overlooked.

According to materials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, under the GIGA School Initiative, learning using one device per student and communication environments began in earnest in almost all compulsory education stage schools nationwide from April 2021.

In a life with learning devices, the policy of "screens are bad, so don't use them" alone is not sufficient. Research learning and engagement with assignments required by schools may coexist with home entertainment on the same device.

From a child's perspective, it might seem like adults are encouraging use for study and scolding for use in other situations. It's necessary to explain not just with "because it's for study," but also the purpose and how to end it.

For example, the time used to compile research and the time spent watching recommended videos one after another have different activity structures. They should not be treated as the same just because they both involve screen use.

At the same time, just because it's for learning purposes doesn't mean breaks are unnecessary. The Ministry's guidebook calls for consideration of eye strain and posture, as well as information sharing and cooperation between schools and homes.

What is needed in Japan is to avoid a situation where schools distribute devices and only homes struggle with managing their use. We should consider the explanation of what purposes to use them for, where to draw the line, and who to consult when in trouble as part of education.

Simply "not using" won't fill the free time

Let's consider this from the perspective of Japanese life.

There are times when parents are busy with work or chores and cannot play with their children nearby. Some families may find it difficult to secure places to play outside or people to spend time with.

Taking away the device alone does not automatically create alternative time.

If reducing children's use is the goal, attention must also be paid to libraries, children's centers, safe places to play, and opportunities for parents to rest. Advice like "parents should be more involved" alone does not create the extra capacity to support that involvement.

There is also room to consider the gaze of public spaces. If children make noise, they are said to be a nuisance, and if given a screen to quiet them, parenting is criticized. Are these not double demands?

This is not a justification for unlimited use. It's about preparing conditions outside the home that allow for continuous improvement.

When considering at home, ask questions beyond "how many minutes"

When reviewing usage rules, questions like the following can be helpful, in addition to time.

• What is being watched or done with the device?
• Is there a shared understanding of when it will end before starting?
• Is it encroaching on meals, sleep, school life, or other play?
• Are there activities to choose from after closing the screen?
• Are adults themselves not continuously looking at devices during conversations or at the dining table?

This is not a checklist to diagnose addiction but a perspective to review life.

For example, instead of just saying "videos are not allowed," choose what to watch beforehand and decide on activities after watching together. As a household rule, adults also create time when devices are not placed on the dining table. Discuss the use necessary for school assignments separately from entertainment use.

The easiest methods to implement vary depending on the child's age and characteristics and the family's circumstances. Rather than deciding based solely on the reaction when stopping device use, it's important to look at how the overall life is structured. If problems persist, don't shoulder the burden with just family efforts; consulting a pediatrician can also be an option.

What children should acquire is also the "ability to close"

Being able to use digital devices and being able to adjust usage independently are not the same.

Finding videos, operating apps, submitting assignments. In addition to these, the ability to close the device when necessary tasks are completed, move on to other activities, and tell an adult when encountering troubling content are also necessary for living in a digital society.

Classifying children with the term "iPad kid" does not nurture this ability. Simply shaming parents does not change daily life.

The question Japan should take from this debate is not just whether to give children devices.

When children look up from their screens, is there someone to talk to? Is there a place to play? Can they find something they want to try next?

To change how we interact with screens, the life outside of them also needs to be enriched together.

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Sources and References

1. Northern Star:
   Editorial by Adrian Maurer published on September 16, 2026, "Fear the iPad baby epidemic."
   https://northernstar.info/138008/opinion/fear-the-ipad-baby-epidemic/
2. Columbia University Medical Center: Confirmation of study content and the meaning of "about 40%."
   Research explanation distinguishing addictive use patterns of social media from total screen time.
   https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/addictive-use-social-media-not-total-time-associated-youth-mental-health
3. JAMA: Original research paper.
   "Addictive Screen Use Trajectories and Suicidal Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health in US Youths." Confirmation of research results and limitations such as the inability to establish causality due to observational study.
   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2835481
4. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: Use of learning devices in Japan and considerations for health.
   Revised March 2022 edition of the 'Guidebook for Utilizing ICT with Consideration for the Health of Students.' Reference to the use of one device per student, considerations for eyes and posture, and cooperation between schools and homes.
   https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/zyouhou/detail/20220329-mxt_kouhou02-1.pdf
5. Reddit/r/Parenting: Opinions on portable screens and monitoring viewing content.
   Summary of public comments from May 2025's "Is 'screen time' that bad?"
   https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/1khfw7q/is_screen_time_that_bad/
6. Reddit/r/ScienceBasedParenting: Discussions on criticism of parents and parenting environments.
   Posts and comments from November 2023. Reference to voices mentioning high living costs, lack of support, and pressure on parents.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceBasedParenting/comments/17tzz4x/why_are_millennial_parents_so_defensive_about/
7. Reddit/r/AttachmentParenting: Different usage circumstances depending on the family.
   October 2024's "Dear Parents of iPad Kids." Reference to experiences regarding in-car use and parenting without screens.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/AttachmentParenting/comments/1gc1z45/dear_parents_of_ipad_kids/