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.
Fair enough!
Honestly, I feel like older generation is in a bit of a vicious circle around tech:
Younger folks met tech revolution as children, they have much easier time with "click and see what happens" mentality. Less responsibility, more curiosity. So when they mature, they already know what can or cannot be done safely.
The only piece of advice I can give is that you really cannot accidentally cause irreversible damage to your devices (unless you drop them, lol), and information can be backed up so you don't have to worry about that. Then, just play around and find what happens! Yes, really.