Top News

Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, has revealed a significant shift in his perspective regarding children and technology. While he previously did not view providing gadgets to children at an early age as inherently wrong, he now considers outdoor play to be far more essential. He asserts that a child's true development takes place not through screens, but within the real world. This statement comes at a time when screen time among young children is rising rapidly.

**How Altman’s Thinking Evolved**

Sam Altman explained that, initially, he was not particularly concerned about children and screen time. Given his involvement in the tech industry, he felt that the use of devices at an early age was a normal occurrence. However, after becoming a parent himself, his mindset underwent a complete transformation. He now believes that it is crucial to keep children away from gadgets—especially during their formative years. This shift in his perspective demonstrates that when it comes to one's own child, one's outlook becomes more sensitive, and priorities inevitably change.

**Why the Real World Is Essential for Children**

Altman believes that children should play outdoors, get their hands dirty in the soil, and learn new things through their own exploration. According to Altman, such experiences foster curiosity, self-confidence, and social skills in children. When a child invents their own games or spends time interacting with friends, they acquire a host of vital skills—lessons that simply cannot be learned from any app or screen. Consequently, he emphasized that connecting children with the real world is of paramount importance.

**Not a Complete Rejection of Technology—Balance Is Key**

Altman is not opposed to technology; rather, he advocates for its responsible use. He notes that completely ignoring technology is not the right approach either; instead, it should be introduced at the appropriate time and in limited doses. Children should first be allowed to understand and engage with the real world; only then is it advisable to introduce them to the digital realm.

**Growing Concerns Over Screen Time**

In today's world, screen time among young children is escalating rapidly, becoming a significant cause for concern among parents. Altman's recent statement serves to spark a renewed debate surrounding this critical issue. Experts also acknowledge that excessive screen time can affect children's eyes, brains, and behavior.

PC Social Media