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David Sparks (MacSparky)

Toy Story 5 and Our Kids' Devices

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

THE MACSPARKY DISPATCH

Hi Friend,

I recently saw the new Toy Story 5 movie, and I want to suggest you consider seeing it with any kids in your life. Let me explain.

I'll keep the spoilers light, because you should see it. The setup is that a kid gets a new device, and that device becomes the thing the whole story turns on. The movie portrays technology with a subtlety I wasn't expecting. By the end, the device isn't the villain. It has a place. It just has limits, and the story is honest about both.

We spend a lot of energy worrying about screens and our kids, and most of that worry is fair. But the goal was never zero technology. The goal is a kid who can handle it. The device in the movie isn't good or bad. It's a tool the kid has to learn to live with, which is the same job sitting in front of the rest of us.

So if you've got a kid in your life, this movie is a gift. It hands you a way to talk about all of this without turning it into a lecture. You watched the same story in the same room. You can ask what they thought, and you're already having the conversation you've been meaning to have.

As parents, our job is to get a kid ready for the world. (The toys conclude they have the same job.) You love them, and you show up, and if you do it right, you slowly make yourself unnecessary. When it comes to finding balance with technology, the kids need help from the grown-ups right now.

Your pal,
David
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This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Shortform.

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David Sparks (MacSparky)

Where Apple Technology and Productivity Combine

In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.

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