My experience is that you don’t even need to physically remove the device for the tantrum to start. The battery has died and I have seen children explode and be unable to calm down until after the phone was charged back up or that parent gave their kid their own phone. I have only seen it a few times but going out to eat or to the zoo, I see kids glued to their screens all the time.

I have negative experiences with mindless scrolling youtube or reddit as an adult and understand that I have an unhealthy relationship with them due to the addictive nature and I feel my attention span has reduced over the years. If adults can have unhealthy habits with technology, why can’t small children?

Reducing the child’s dependence on a screen to stay entertained or to behave in a public setting is more like cutting your child off after a few cookies and not letting them just eat several dozen cookies for dinner than taking the bottle away.

Phones aren’t necessary like a bottle of milk is for babies.