iPad kid

English

Etymology

Popularized in January 2021 after Gen Z TikToker Gabe Escobar criticized Millennial parents for allowing excessive screen time for their children.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

iPad kid (plural iPad kids)

1. (Internet slang, sometimes mildly derogatory) A child, generally Generation Alpha, who gets all of their entertainment through an iPad or other tablet; a child who is addicted to using their tablet.

   Synonyms: iPad baby, iPad child

   That iPad kid went ballistic in the restaurant after his mom took his iPad away.

   • 2022 January 23, Bart Pursel, “The Infamous iPad Kid”, in Sites at Penn State‎^[1], archived from the original on 2023-04-25, retrieved 25 April 2023:

     Unfortunately, technology is growing in popularity by the minute, even establishing itself in our education and physical activity. Now more than ever our society is supporting the development of iPad kids.

   • 2022 October 26, Ashley Hagar, Hisham Bensaadat, “"iPad Kids" are Shaping the Future of Education”, in The Spectator‎^[2], Seattle University:

     Some in Generation Z have frowned upon the idea of raising their own children as "iPad kids" after witnessing recent hyper fixation with technology.

References

• Rosie Colosi (2024 September 23 (last accessed)) “What Are 'iPad kids'? Why Gen Z criticizes Gen Alpha's screen time”, in Today

Further reading

• iPad kid on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “iPad kid”, in Urban Dictionary, launched 1999.