We spend a lot of time worrying about screen time. We worry about violence, distraction, and the atrophy of attention spans. These are valid concerns. But we should not throw the textbook out with the bathwater. We should recognize that has shaped the emotional and intellectual landscape of modern humanity.
As I reflect on my educational journey, I realize that my first teachers weren't necessarily in a traditional classroom setting. In fact, some of my earliest and most influential teachers were from entertainment content and popular media. We spend a lot of time worrying about screen time
For many children born in the last decade, their first "teacher" isn't a person, but a character. Whether it’s the rhythmic cadences of Cocomelon , the problem-solving lessons of Bluey , or the interactive prompts of a YouTube creator, media content acts as a primary source of cognitive stimulation. But we should not throw the textbook out with the bathwater