In 2002, Maine became the first state to implement a statewide laptop program to some grade levels. Then-governor Angus King saw the program as a way to put the internet at the fingertips of more children, who would be able to immerse themselves in information.
By that fall, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative had distributed 17,000 Apple laptops to seventh graders across 243 middle schools. By 2016, those numbers had multiplied to 66,000 laptops and tablets distributed to Maine students.
King’s initial efforts have been mirrored across the country. In 2024, the U.S. spent more than $30 billion putting laptops and tablets in schools. But more than a quarter-century and numerous evolving models of technology later, psychologists and learning experts see a different outcome than the one King intended. Rather than empowering the generation with access to more knowledge, the technology had the opposite effect.
straight facts.
the vacuum of responsible leadership/sane regulations opened the doors for corporations to colonize every corner of online activity. they have run amok with behavior-changing technologies. rather than implementing these new tools thoughtfully in the classroom (and at home), idiotic people wrote enormous checks to Apple and Microsoft, Google and other vendors, assuming that the kids would just, ya know, figure it out. magically, somehow.
a separate but related thought: we need to recognize that:
how kids use personal devices at home shapes their usage patterns at school. if their only reference point for what a “computer” is and does is unlimited brainrot attention baiting consumption, then guess what? they will see these devices purely as entertainment/addiction machines and nothing more.
kids mimic their parents behavior. if parents are zonked out all night mindlessly binging endless short form content and tv shows, they will come to understand that behavior as “normal” and “appropriate” and even “good”. society at large (and some parents) think kids must abide by different expectations than the ones they place on adults. kids know that’s hypocritical bullshit and will either emulate the bad behavior (with post hoc rationalizations) or resent the behavior (with maladaptations/ internalized guilt or resentment).