The Moroccan Family Confronts the Digital Dilemma
In nearly every Moroccan household, there exists a scene so commonplace that it often goes unnoticed: a young child, no more than three or four years old, skillfully manipulating a smartphone with their tiny fingers, effortlessly swiping across the screen without needing any instruction. This child, like many others, has learned this behavior organically, much like how we adults learn to walk or talk. This phenomenon raises a pressing question for families from Casablanca to Oujda and Marrakech to Nador: Who is truly raising our children today? Is it the parents or grandparents as it once was, or has this responsibility shifted to a small screen that tirelessly engages their attention?
Smartphones as Children’s Companions
Numerous Moroccan mothers candidly admit, often with a hint of embarrassment, that smartphones have become their go-to solution when their child cries in public or when they need a brief moment of peace to finish cooking or handle a work call. Unlike humans, smartphones require no breaks, offer no resistance, and ask for nothing in return, making them the ideal companion for exhausted parents after a long day's work or for mothers managing household and professional responsibilities simultaneously. However, the issue is not the smartphone itself, as it is merely a tool devoid of intent. The real concern lies in how we, as parents, have inadvertently handed over a task we never intended to delegate: the task of raising our children. A child who spends hours absorbed in short, ever-changing videos is not just entertained but is also learning a specific rhythm of thought, a particular way to cope with boredom, and even a certain model of relationships and behavior—all without the guidance or correction from a parent, teacher, or mentor.
The current generation of parents, unlike their own upbringing, has experienced a void of boredom. They knew what it was like to feel restless during holidays, to play in the neighborhood, and to wait an entire week to catch a single episode of their favorite cartoon. Although this boredom might have appeared frustrating at the time, it cultivated essential qualities such as patience, imagination, and the ability to create play from nothing. In stark contrast, today’s children are unfamiliar with boredom; the moment they feel the slightest tinge of it, one of their hands instinctively reaches for a smartphone, and the boredom dissipates within seconds. While this may seem convenient in the moment, it deprives the child of a crucial opportunity: the chance to learn how to be alone with themselves and how to confront emptiness without fleeing from it.
One of the protective factors in Moroccan society has traditionally been the extended family. The grandmother who tells stories, the uncle who jokes around, and the compassionate neighbors create a genuine social network that contributes to child-rearing without formally acknowledging it. However, as this network has begun to fray in larger cities and as everyone becomes increasingly engrossed in their own devices, children often find themselves isolated, even when surrounded by family. So, what should we do? The solution does not lie in completely banning smartphones; such an approach is unrealistic and counterproductive in our time. Instead, the answer is to restore balance. We must establish designated screen time, much like we allocate time for meals and sleep. It’s vital to sit down with our children and occasionally watch alongside them—not merely to supervise but to understand what they consume and why they enjoy it. We must also allow boredom to reclaim its rightful place, permitting children to experience it without rushing to remedy it with a device. Moreover, adults must recognize that our own eyes are often glued to screens more than we realize, and children learn through imitation long before they learn through words.
Ultimately, the question extends beyond who is raising our children; it compels us to ask whether we are still the ones making that decision or if we have relinquished it to algorithms that know neither our children nor care about their futures.
As reported by hespress.com.
