In this age of extreme personalisation, discussing togetherness may seem outdated to some, akin to a Y2K sensibility. Research shows that children today are growing up in an environment vastly different from that of their parents, reshaping their childhoods with influences like social media and smartphone addiction. While technology is often seen as a double-edged sword, it is not the villain here. These challenges have always existed and may be part of a larger, incomprehensible purpose. Maintaining personal well-being without losing individuality is crucial amid these changes. Our altered digital habits serve as models for children, and we discuss issues like loneliness, isolation, and depression within unseen barriers. We are still social animals, as evolutionists suggest, and our brains need time to adapt to this new era and possibly transition to a new species. Understanding who we are and living a life true to ourselves require societal support. We are their environment and mitigation.
Even if this is an ongoing matter, there comes a time when one must conclude. During a period of exploration, I met a middle-aged woman who inspired me to research how to support and empower children to become creative beings in the digital age. The ultimate goal was the happiness of childhood.
“Happiness? It sounds like chasing after clouds. There is no need for philosophical approaches. The past remains a mere memory. Why must children specifically be happy? What is liminality? Is it included just because it looks cool? I completely fail to understand this sensation of being stuck in the middle. And what about media? I don’t have a smartphone addiction; I manage everything well and live a good life. The correlation between adolescent suicide rates and social media is a mere coincidence. Data interpretation can easily vary. Children are not something you can control. Just focus on raising your own kid.”
Listening to all this feedback, I stopped trying to convince them and focused on my thoughts. Some people lack interest in children. I’ve even met those who argue that our earth needs more care than children. Sometimes, I think I should have pursued my greatest interest: research on interactive, immersive media art. Integrating it with the facade and digital arts would have been cool and profitable—a perfect project for art school. I understand the importance of children for those who have them, but we also know the difficulties of being unable to control things as we wish, and sometimes we want to ignore this burden.
Expanding educational opportunities in the arts for children, especially through established and reputable institutions, could provide immense benefits. While digital tools like iPads offer cost-effective and versatile means for creative expression, the focus should also be on nurturing imagination and exposing children to a variety of artistic mediums. This holistic approach in arts education is essential to ensure children develop a broad spectrum of creative skills and thinking, which will be invaluable as they progress into more advanced, digital forms of art. The challenge lies in balancing financial viability with the need to invest in the creative development of future generations.