My mom keeps investing in diamond jewelry. I've tried explaining to her that diamonds do not hold their value, but she won't hear it.

If they are quality (or even relevant) shares or content then it's a good thing. Well, for us as content consumers, maybe not a healthy thing for them to be constantly online - but who here is going to cast that first stone?

I mean, I have a Pixel 9 Pro running Graphene, but sure this isn't like my Pine phone (which is fun to pay with but a slog as a daily driver).

I think it started with TV being regulated. At first we were strict about only giving her access to 'educational' shows, so a lot of PBS Kids shows like Daniel Tiger, but we also did YouTube channels like Super Simple Songs. We avoided anything too commercialized or designed to sell toys (Paw Patrol), but that caused issues when she went to preschool and didn't know any of the shows and characters the other kids knew, so we relaxed a little, but treated Paw Patrol as a treat (she'd be limited to 30 minutes of it, but could then switch to something on PBS). And even PBS screen time was limited to certain times of the day. It never really became an issue because she never knew any other way.

For the phone, a few years ago on Google Fi it was actually the same price to have 3 lines as it was to have 2 lines, and I had an extra phone and so it just made sense to activate it so she had a phone to use in the car while we took a 12 hour car ride. It worked really well, and she knew that 'her phone' would always go right back in my pocket when she wasn't using it. We also got her some Bluetooth headphones and we've taught her that her phone should not make any sound that anyone else can hear when we're in public. We're trying to find that balance between making sure she has the skills needed to use technology, but also doesn't become dependent on it like the rest of us are. I'm not sure it will work in the long-term, but I do know that my family won't be the ones behind you in a restaurant with the kid playing a loud game on her phone.

I was providing context to your question about how long it's been normalized and when kids get their first phones.

And yes, as a parent I know that I won't be able to control everything my kid does as she ages, however I think by creating good habits and setting healthy boundaries it will help her make the right choices later in life.

Just because a kid has a phone, it doesn't necessarily mean they have full access to it. My daughter has had her own phone since she was 3 years old, she is now 8 and still rarely gets access to her phone - maybe an hour a week on Saturday mornings or if we're going on a long drive. There's never any fights when she has to put it away, and she's learning good device usage habits.

I was in the surgery waiting room for 12 hours while my mom had spinal surgery and some piece of shit Boomer kept watching political commentary videos on his phone and would very aggressively say to people "This isn't bothering you, is it?" And when we let him know it was, he'd just move a few seats away - not far enough to make any real difference. I wanted to beat the asshole to a bloody pulp, but I was equally as mad at the hospital who didn't put an end to it.

Same with fuckers in restaurants watching sports on their phones, or on speakerphone calls, or kids playing their fucking preschool games with their volume turned up. If we can't kill these motherfuckers then we should at least be allowed to smash their phones out of their hands.

But ... there are other billionaires out there who are not going into hiding because they are billionaires.

I've installed Amazon's app store, and FDroid and never had an issue. Are these not considered third-party stores?

This sounds like me before trump, the pandemic, losing my brother, aunt and father-in-law to COVID (due to them not taking it seriously because of politics) and finally getting laid off from my job of 16 years.

Now I eat a handful a pills every day just so I can make it through the day without losing my shit on the next person who slightly annoys me.

They can defend their copyright by granting permission also. They chose the other path.

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book

Revelations 22:18