TikTok

Ah, the age-old battle cry of exasperated adults: "Get your kids off of social media and teach them how to think!" It's like we've stumbled into a world where youngsters are more acquainted with the latest viral TikTok dance than with the basic concept of critical thinking.

You see, kids today seem to have missed out on some crucial life lessons. Remember the days of scraping your knee on the pavement, courtesy of an adventurous bike ride? Or the thrill of falling off a webbed monkey bar contraption that looked like a futuristic dome from a sci-fi movie? And let's not forget that classic wooden playground, complete with splinters waiting to snag the unsuspecting passerby. Oh, and the pièce de résistance – that scorching hot metal slide that could incinerate any exposed skin on a blistering summer day. These were the rites of passage that made us who we are today, right?

But alas, today's kids are different. They've become, dare I say it, soft and lazy. Instead of conquering the playground of peril, they doom scroll on their cellphones, while their parents binge-watch some reality show trainwreck like the Kardashians or whatever the latest sensation is. It's like they've traded the scrapes and bruises of childhood for the vicarious thrill of celebrity drama.

And let's talk about parents for a moment. They're more concerned with being BFFs with their offspring than actually raising them. It's like they're in a competition to see who can be the chillest parent on the block. But what about imparting life skills and social skills? What about nurturing their little minds to have a growth mindset and critical thinking skills? No, it seems like they're too busy trying to one-up each other in the "cool parent" Olympics.

So, here's a radical idea: If your kids are glued to their phones, make them create something meaningful or film something with a purpose. Encourage them to capture the beauty of the world around them, document a project they're passionate about, or showcase their latest video game conquest – and heck, why not have them build their own websites while they're at it? It's all within their grasp, and it's a darn sight more productive than endlessly scrolling through cat memes.

In conclusion, let's heed the call and collectively declare, "Get your kids off their darn phones and teach them how to think!" It's a battle worth fighting, and who knows, maybe someday they'll thank us for it. Or at least they'll have some epic video content to share on the internet.