Edward Snowden Unnerved By Children's Screen Time, Reveals His Teen Internet Addiction: Would Peck Keyboard with Toes Rather Than 'Log Off'
Edward Snowden, former NSA contractor and renowned whistleblower, recently shared his apprehensions regarding the influence of screens on children, specifically his own, through a thread on X, formerly Twitter.
What Happened: On Sunday, Snowden expressed his unease about his child’s fascination with the digital world. “Nothing has ever unnerved me like witnessing my child’s first time totally ensorcelled by a glowing screen,” he tweeted. He also shared his personal challenges in managing his screen dependency, questioning the human ability to resist the allure of technology.
Edward Snowden@Snowdenמרץ 02, 2024Nothing has ever unnerved me like witnessing my child's first time totally ensorcelled by a glowing screen.
I spent my entire life stapled to a computer and yet still struggle to manage my own vulnerability to that trance. What if we can't? If we simply haven't evolved for this? pic.twitter.com/2RmCemOOcW
In the same thread, Snowden further reflected on the issue, stating, “They want to do what the big people do. It’s a reflection of how utterly dependent we ourselves are on these screens.”
Snowden cited his own example, which he said was best not emulated. He said his mind “developed” as it did because he was “addicted to the internet as a teen.” He said his carpal tunnel syndrome developed to such an extreme stage that it was “too painful to type” and that he would type with his toes rather than log off.
Edward Snowden@Snowdenמרץ 02, 2024My mind developed as it did because I was so addicted to the internet as a teen that when my carpal tunnel became so extreme that it was too painful to type, I would lay the keyboard on the floor to hunt and peck with my toes rather than log off.
I am not an example to emulate.
See Also: Big Brother Knows Your Alerts? FBI’s Push Notification Tracking Raises Privacy Alarms
Why It Matters: Snowden’s concerns come in the backdrop of his previous comments on the potential and pitfalls of technology. In a 2023 conference, he emphasized the need for AI models to be better than humans, not just mimic them, reflecting his belief in the transformative potential of technology.
However, he has also been vocal about the risks, criticizing Google parent Alphabet and Apple for their ‘privacy-hostile design‘ and alleged data sharing with the Department of Justice. His recent tweets reflect a balance between recognizing the potential of technology and cautioning against its risks, especially for vulnerable populations like children.
Photo via Wikimedia
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